For the Love of Orchids

There are only a few rules for orchid care, but you have to follow them closely.

There are more than 70,000 orchid hybrids, offering a vast array of color and flower structure. Cattleyas--like the one above--vary a great deal in color, form, petal markings and the number of flowers in a cluster, but what they have in common is the need for a lot of light in order to bloom successfully.

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Orchids are native to every continent except Antarctica. That's good news because it means that, for any given setting and environment, there's probably an orchid that will feel quite at home. Before you bring an orchid home, though, know what its light and care requirements are, so you can give it exactly what it wants.

That doesn't mean that orchids are necessarily difficult to care for, however. These beautiful plants may appear fragile and delicate but they're actually quite durable. In fact, many orchids are even easy to care for. There are only a few rules for orchid care, but you have to follow them closely. Here are some must-do's for orchid care:

Figure A

Mist frequently. The showiest orchids come from the equatorial regions of the planet. Because most homes tend to have dry air, you'll want to give your orchids the humidity they crave. Avoid having water collect on the center area of the plant.

Figure B

Place decorative pebbles in a tray. Add water to the tray until it's just below the top of the pebbles; don't completely cover the pebbles. Sit the pot on the pebbles. The evaporating water will increase the humidity around the plant.

Avoid placing the orchid near drying elements such as heaters and fireplaces.

Provide good air circulation to avoid heat buildup and bacterial infections.

Never leave plants sitting in water. All leaf surfaces should be dry at night to avoid spotting and bacterial growth.

Water plants with a weak solution of a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

Dendrobiums have a bamboo-like growth habit. Some are less than one foot tall; others, up to five feet. Flowers last a long time--up to two months--but you may have trouble reblooming them unless you can offer them a lot of light.

Here's what to look for when you're shopping for orchids:

Orchids enjoy being slightly root-bound. Some roots should be visible at the top of the potting mix, and they should be whitish, firm and not moist. (As epiphytes, orchids can draw moisture out of the air through their roots.) Roots coming out of the bottom of the pot is also not a bad sign; you don't even have to repot it when you get the plant home.
Buy plants with some unopened buds for a longer display of first blooms.
Inspect for bugs and insects.

The flowers of Lady of the Night orchids are pure white and fragrant.

Repotting Orchids

Although orchids enjoy being root-bound, they'll need to be repotted when the potting mix has broken down — usually every two years.

Choose a time after the orchid has finished blooming; flowers could fall from the stress of repotting. Here's how to do it:

Remove the plant from the pot, using a kitchen knife to separate the outside of the rooting medium from the pot. (It's a good idea to first dip the knife into alcohol and water to make sure it's sterile.)
Remove all the old potting medium from the roots, remove obviously dead roots (or that feel soft or hollow) and then dunk the root mass into a tub of water to finish cleaning.

Figure C

Select a pot that's only a little bigger than the one the orchid has been in. The pot should just accommodate the root mass. Plastic pots are usually used in nurseries, but terra-cotta pots are a good option because they dry out quickly. Ample drainage holes — preferably in both the bottom and the sides — are desirable.

Use fir bark, never potting soil. Half-fill the pot to start, arrange the roots in the pot, and then add the rest of the bark to finish. Tamp to settle.

Water well so that the water comes to the surface of the pot; let it drain through, then repeat two or three times.