Damon Mcknight
Orchids are a diverse family of flowering plants, with nearly 30,000 species and cultivars, that are popular for their beauty and unique, vibrant flowers. They grow all over the world, except Antarctica, and are especially dazzling in Asia and Australia. In Australia, the easiest orchids to grow are Cymbidiums and Dendrobiums, which thrive outdoors in most parts of the country, except very cold climates. For indoor orchids in Australia, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, and Paphiopedilum orchids will do well. Here are some tips for caring for indoor orchids in Australia:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Climate | Orchids grow in all climates, but the best choice for indoors is the moth orchid. |
| Watering | Water regularly, but allow water to drain from the containers. Water about once a week. |
| Feeding and mulching | Feed regularly with a fertiliser formulated for orchids. Feed monthly in spring and summer with orchid fertiliser. |
| Pruning and ongoing care | Orchids need to be groomed to remove dead or diseased leaves. They are also deadheaded to remove spent flowers and flower stems. |
| Pests | Caterpillars, aphids, snails, slugs, mealy bugs, scale, fungal gnats, and the orchid beetle. |
| Repotting | Repotting an orchid is necessary from time to time to keep your plant healthy. |
| Light | Place in a bright, indirect light spot. Avoid direct sunlight. |
| Temperature | Orchids thrive in warm, humid conditions. The ideal temperature is about 23 degrees Celsius. |
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What You'll Learn
Watering and humidity
Orchids require constant moisture and grow best in warm, humid environments. When growing orchids indoors, it is important to create a humid microclimate for them. You can do this by adding clean pebbles to a shallow tray, filling it with water, and placing your potted orchid on top. Orchids also make fantastic indoor plants for bathrooms, where humidity is often higher.
Orchids should be watered roughly once a week, allowing water to drain from the containers. It is important to avoid overwatering and waterlogging, as this can cause the roots to rot. The best way to know when to water your orchid is to gently push your finger into the soil and test for moisture. If the potting mix is dry, it's time to water your orchid. If it's damp, hold off on watering and check again in a couple of days. Orchids prefer to dry out between waterings.
To water your orchid, give it a light water at room temperature. Water straight to the roots, avoiding the leaves. A gentle poke to the root bed to ensure it remains damp is a good practice. The occasional mist with a water spray can also help extend the life of the flowers.
Most orchids have thick, fleshy roots that are vulnerable to root rot, so it is important to use a premium-quality, free-draining potting mix specifically designed for orchids. Orchids growing in soil should be planted in moist, free-draining soil.
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Light and temperature
Orchids are a diverse family of flowering plants that grow in a variety of habitats, from rainforests to deserts. They are popular as indoor flowering plants, with some varieties spending their days indoors and others requiring a sheltered spot outdoors.
When growing orchids indoors, it is important to provide them with bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can be too harsh for the delicate blooms and can cause the roots to dry out too quickly. If growing orchids in a window, ensure that the light is filtered and that the plant is not placed in direct sunlight. North- or east-facing windows are ideal for providing bright, indirect light.
The ideal temperature for orchids is about 23 degrees Celsius, providing a temperate climate for the plant to thrive and flower. Orchids should be kept away from direct heating or air conditioning, as these can dry out the air. Instead, provide a soft airflow of fresh, warm air to keep the flowers intact.
To maintain the ideal humidity for orchids, create a humid mini-climate by adding clean pebbles to a shallow tray, filling it with water, and placing your potted orchid on top. Orchids' love of humidity makes them well-suited for bathrooms, where they can thrive with minimal direct sunlight.
Some of the easiest orchids to grow in Australia include Cymbidiums and Dendrobiums, which thrive outdoors in most parts of the country except for very cold climates. For indoor orchids, Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, and Paphiopedilum varieties are good choices.
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Feeding and fertilising
Orchids are heavy feeders and require regular fertilisation to develop a strong root system, healthy foliage, and gorgeous flowers. It is recommended to feed your orchids with a fertiliser specifically formulated for orchids, such as Scotts Osmocote Pour+Feed for Orchids, which provides a blend of essential nutrients, including nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
When using a liquid fertiliser, pour it onto the soil or bark, avoiding the leaves. Make sure to water your orchid first to moisten the roots and prevent root burn. You can also add orchid fertiliser to the water during submersion, which involves placing the bottom quarter of the plant's pot in lukewarm water for an hour.
The frequency of fertilisation depends on the season and the growth stage of your orchid. During the peak growing season, fertilise your orchid every two to four weeks. You can also feed your orchid once every third watering. In spring and summer, a monthly feeding with a weak solution of orchid fertiliser is recommended. During the winter, you can reduce the frequency to once every couple of months.
To promote flowering, switch to a high-phosphorus fertiliser during the peak growing season. It is important to maintain a balance when fertilising your orchids. A "balanced" fertiliser with a ratio of 20-20-20 is recommended, ensuring your orchid receives all the necessary trace elements.
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Pests and diseases
Some common pests found on orchids include snails and slugs, caterpillars, aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, thrips, mites, and ants. Snails and slugs can damage the roots, flower buds, and pseudobulbs of orchids, leaving a silvery slimy track behind. Mealybugs, soft-bodied insects with pear-shaped bodies, tend to hide at junctions with crevices. Scale insects are hard to eradicate and can be found on the backs of leaves. Thrips are destructive pests that slash plant tissues and drink the cellular pulp. Mites come in both good and bad varieties; the good ones are predatory and feed on other mites and plant pests.
To control pest populations, you can use neem oil, which smothers the pests, or insecticidal soap. You can also try organic treatments or simply remove the pests by hand or with a gentle brush. For snails and slugs, you can lure them with a saucer of beer under a lettuce leaf and then collect them during the day.
Some common diseases that affect orchids include root rot from overwatering, fungal diseases such as anthracnose, phytophthora (black spots on leaves), botrytis (grey mould), and petal blight. Bacterial brown spot disease, which appears as a brown, watery blister on orchid leaves, thrives in cold, wet conditions. Black rot, crown rot, and damping off are caused by water moulds or oomycetes, requiring free water to spread. To treat these diseases, remove the infected areas with sterilised cutting tools and apply appropriate treatments, such as bactericides or fungicides.
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Repotting and propagation
Repotting an orchid is necessary from time to time to keep your plant healthy. Orchids are susceptible to root rot, so it is important to use a premium-quality, free-draining potting mix. A good orchid mix will contain chunky pieces of bark to ensure water runs through quickly, and roots have plenty of air around them.
If you are repotting an epiphyte orchid, use a mix with larger pieces of bark and place it in a hanging basket or regular pot. For terrestrial orchids, use a mix with smaller pieces and added compost to help retain moisture. You can also use a coarse grade of pine bark as the potting medium. Orchids have thick roots that will often grow outside the pot, which is perfectly normal.
Propagation is the process of creating new orchids from existing ones. There are two main methods: division and cuttings. For orchids that grow in clusters, such as cattleyas, divide the plant into clusters of four or more pseudobulbs when the plant is dormant. Other orchids, such as marsh orchids, can be propagated by breaking up established clumps when dormant. Some orchids, like the Pleione species, can be propagated by division in spring.
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Frequently asked questions
Cattleya, Phalaenopsis, and Paphiopedilum orchids do well indoors. Moth orchids can also spend their days indoors.
Orchids need bright, indirect light to thrive. Avoid direct sunlight as this may burn the plant. A temperature of around 23°C is ideal, and they prefer a soft airflow.
Water your orchid about once a week, ensuring the water drains well and avoiding waterlogging. Allow the roots to dry out between waterings, but do not let the mossy substance surrounding the roots dry out completely.
Feed your orchid with fertiliser formulated for orchids. Feed monthly in spring and summer, and occasionally in winter for some species.
