Orchids In The Home

Don’t be intimidated by these exotic beauties.

- Tinus Oberholzer

Many of us start our orchid growing with a Phalaenopsis or moth orchid that we received as a gift from a friend or that we decided to buy as it lasts much longer than a bunch of flowers. These orchids are mostly grown as a throwaway commodity, and in many cases the plants are discarded once they have finished flowering. Some of us who have feeling for plants and a bit of a green thumb decide to not throw away the plant but rather try our hand at getting it to grow and flower again. In some cases this is successful and in others not. There are, however, many different orchids that can be grown indoors with great success. Many orchids will be fine if placed indoors for the period in which they are in flower, but might require different growing conditions for the rest of the time.

Orchids need to be repotted on a regular basis as the potting medium (which is usually an organic mix) does break down over time, which results in poorer drainage and aeration and eventually the death of the plant. It is recommended that you repot your orchid at least every 2 – 3 years in order to replace the potting medium and, if necessary, pot into a bigger pot. In most cases the best time to repot would be in spring to allow the whole growing season for the plants to root in the new medium.