How To Grow Orchids At Home

Containers with side drainage holes work well for orchids, as do plastic pots.

All orchids like to sit tightly in their pots and prefer to not be disturbed, so let them become quite crowded before you repot.

Tropical orchids do well in hanging baskets.

Cattleyas prefer pots that are wider than they are deep.

Vanda orchids like timber baskets and clay pots, as they have roots that prefer to climb outside their container.

All orchids need a free-draining specialist potting mix, with most based on bark chips.

Moth orchids like a richer mix.

If the mix has added fertiliser, reduce additional feeding for the first year.

If you make your own mix, soak the bark chips in hot water for a day first to leach excess tannins, and talk to your local orchid club about the best mix for each type.

TIP: Label each plant pot and if you’re repotting, include the date.

Orchids love humidity and most have similar basic needs but check the plant label for specific requirements.

Water as needed in hot dry weather and up to daily in summer, depending on the variety, and mist regularly.

Part-fill a bucket then immerse the pot to brim level for 15 minutes.

Most like their mix to just dry out between waterings but some, like cymbidiums, can dry out entirely.

Slippers prefer constant moisture.

Fertilise according to orchid type.

Mix the food with the water in the bucket you use to water the plant.

Position in filtered light, about 50%, in summer and full sun in winter, moving as necessary.

All orchids need freely circulating air, without strong winds or constant draughts.

Zap aphids, scale and mealy bug by spraying with pest oil or remove by hand, and protect from slugs and snails.

Good positioning helps prevent pest and disease problems.

To grow orchids indoors choose a well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight, as it can scorch the leaves.

Stand the pots on a tray of gravel and water into the tray to create humidity, making sure the roots don’t touch the gravel.

There are thousands of orchid varieties out there, so we’ve listed the six most common to help you choose a type to suit your zone conditions.

TIP: In colder or more mountainous regions, you’ll need a greenhouse even for cymbidiums.

Super easy to grow in most regions, cymbidium flowers range in colour from deep chocolate to citrus yellow.

Feed weekly with high-potassium, full-strength fertiliser from August to December and a high-nitrogen fertiliser the rest of the year.

TIP: Move to a higher, lighter position if the plant is not flowering.

Dendrobium orchids are top picks for temperate regions.

There is a huge range of species and cultivars, so check the specific light and growing needs of your particular dendrobium.

Feed fortnightly from October to April with half-strength orchid fertiliser, and protect from excess water in winter as buds form.

At home in a tropical shadehouse, moth orchids are more often found in bathrooms and living rooms around the country, and the blooms can last for up to three months.

Feed fortnightly year-round and ensure they have rich, moist potting mix and warm, humid conditions in filtered light, away from direct sun.

Shade-loving slipper orchids prefer low to medium light, though some varieties can handle more.

These tropical plants love humidity and don’t cope well without water.

Feed fortnightly except when dormant with half-strength fertiliser.

TIP: Too much sun causes yellow leaves, too much shade causes no flowers.

Happiest in the tropics, vandas can grow further south if kept dry over winter.

They have air-loving roots that roam outside their pots and need protection from damage.

Feed weekly using high-potassium fertiliser from September to March.

TIP: Partner with Spanish moss and bromeliads to keep the humidity high.

Truly tropical, these orchids won’t grow below about 10°C.

If your area drops a degree or two below this, try them indoors.

They like bright filtered light, but leaves yellow and growth slows if they get too much.

Feed weekly with quarter-strength fertiliser when the plant is in active growth and showing green tips.