Orchids are fascinating plants. They have such an exotic appearance and can’t help but capture our attention with their delicate blooms.
Yet orchids are notorious for their sensitivity and the specific care they need. Many orchid growers, especially those new to the hobby, find themselves puzzled when their plants don’t flourish.
So in this guide we’ll explore the seven most common mistakes made with orchids and provide strategies to correct them.
1. Overwatering: Why Too Much Love Can Kill Your Orchid
Overwatering is probably the number one mistake that leads to the demise of orchids, especially for beginners who equate more water with better care. Orchids, unlike typical houseplants, do not thrive in consistently wet conditions. Overwatering leads to root rot, a condition where the roots become waterlogged, start to decay, and eventually die. Without healthy roots, your orchid cannot absorb the necessary nutrients, and the plant will slowly deteriorate.
Signs of Overwatering
Mushy or discolored roots: Healthy orchid roots should be firm and white or green. If they are brown and squishy, root rot has set in.
Yellowing leaves: When roots start to rot, they can no longer transport water and nutrients to the leaves, causing them to yellow and eventually drop.
How to Fix Overwatering
Check the potting medium: Use a free-draining orchid medium like bark or sphagnum moss that allows air to reach the roots.
Adjust your watering schedule: Water only when the top inch of the medium feels dry to the touch. This might mean once a week or even less frequently, depending on your environment.
Water early in the day: This ensures that any excess moisture has time to evaporate before nightfall, reducing the risk of fungal growth.
Preventative Measures
Repot your orchid: If you suspect root rot, repot your orchid in fresh medium, trimming away any rotten roots. Always use sterilized tools to prevent the spread of disease.
Use a pot with drainage holes: Orchid roots need airflow to stay healthy. A pot with good drainage ensures water doesn’t accumulate at the bottom, preventing rot.
Tip: If your orchid’s roots are too far gone, propagation might be your only option. This involves cutting away the healthy parts of the plant and trying to grow a new plant from those cuttings.
2. Using the Wrong Potting Medium
Orchids in the wild typically grow on trees, attaching themselves to bark rather than rooting in soil. This means that their roots are adapted to a lot of air exposure and minimal direct contact with water. Using traditional potting soil is a mistake that many new growers make, which can lead to poor air circulation around the roots, waterlogging, and root rot.
The Right Medium for Orchids
Bark: Fir or pine bark is a popular choice because it provides good drainage and mimics the natural environment of tree-dwelling orchids.
Sphagnum moss: This retains moisture but allows for airflow. It’s especially useful in dry climates or for orchids that require a bit more moisture.
Perlite and charcoal: These can be mixed with bark to enhance drainage and prevent the medium from breaking down too quickly.
Customizing Your Mix
For Phalaenopsis orchids (one of the most common types), a mix of 80% bark and 20% sphagnum moss works well. If you live in a humid environment, you might want to increase the bark ratio to enhance drainage.
Dendrobium orchids prefer a more open mix, so adding extra perlite or even small pieces of rock to the bark mix can help.
Repotting Frequency
Repot your orchid every 1-2 years. Over time, the potting medium breaks down, becomes more compact, and loses its ability to provide adequate air circulation. This leads to poor root health.
Tip: When repotting, always remove any old medium clinging to the roots and check for any signs of rot. Trim away any unhealthy roots before placing your orchid in fresh medium.
3. Ignoring Light Requirements
Light is essential for orchid growth, but not all light is equal. Orchids require bright, indirect light to thrive. Direct sunlight can be too intense, causing leaf scorch, while too little light can lead to weak growth and a lack of flowers.
Understanding Light Levels
Direct sunlight: This can cause sunburn, which appears as white or brown spots on the leaves. It’s particularly damaging in the midday sun when light intensity is at its peak.
Insufficient light: Orchids in too little light will struggle to bloom. Their leaves may become darker green as they stretch to capture more light.
How to Optimize Light Exposure
Location matters: Place your orchid near an east-facing window for gentle morning light. West-facing windows can also work, but you may need to diffuse the light with a curtain.
Rotate regularly: Turning your orchid every week ensures all sides get equal exposure, preventing uneven growth.
Artificial lighting: If natural light is inadequate, consider using grow lights. Make sure they provide the right spectrum of light and are on for about 12 hours a day.
Tip: Observe your orchid’s leaves. If they are bright green and firm, your light levels are probably just right. Pale or yellow leaves might indicate too much light, while dark green leaves often mean too little [oai_citation:7,13 Common Orchid Mistakes That Are Slowly Killing Your Plant – Good Home Garden](https://goodhomegarden.com/orchid-mistakes/).
4. Poor Air Circulation: The Silent Killer
Orchids need good airflow to stay healthy. Stagnant air can lead to a buildup of excess moisture around the leaves and roots, promoting fungal infections and pests.
Recognizing Poor Air Circulation
Fungal spots on leaves: Black or brown spots can indicate fungal issues, often caused by too much moisture and not enough airflow.
Moldy roots: If your orchid’s roots seem to be covered in a slimy or moldy coating, this is a clear sign that they’re not getting enough air.
Improving Air Circulation
Location: Keep your orchid in a room with good airflow. Avoid placing it in a closed-off corner or near other plants that might restrict air movement.
Use a fan: An oscillating fan set on low can help keep the air moving around your orchid without drying it out. Ensure the fan is not blowing directly on the plant, as this can cause the leaves to dry out too quickly.
Spacing: If you have multiple orchids, ensure they are spaced out enough to allow air to circulate freely between them.
Tip: Regularly clean the area around your orchid to remove any fallen leaves or debris, which can harbor mold and other pathogens.
5. Overfertilizing: Less Is More
Many orchid owners mistakenly believe that more fertilizer will result in more blooms. However, orchids are light feeders, and overfertilizing can lead to burnt roots, leaf damage, and ultimately, a weakened plant.
The Right Way to Fertilize
Dilute, dilute, dilute: Always use a balanced orchid fertilizer diluted to half or even quarter strength.
Seasonal feeding: Fertilize more during the growing season (spring and summer), typically once a month. In the dormant months (fall and winter), reduce feeding to once every 6-8 weeks or stop altogether.
Water before feeding: Always water your orchid before applying fertilizer. This helps prevent fertilizer burn on the roots.
Recognizing Overfertilization
Yellowing leaves: This could be a sign that the fertilizer is too strong or applied too often.
Salt buildup: If you see white crusty deposits on the surface of the potting medium, you’re likely dealing with a buildup of fertilizer salts.
Tip: If you suspect overfertilization, flush the potting medium with plain water to remove excess salts. Do this once a month to prevent any buildup.
6. Misting the Wrong Parts: Focus on the Roots
Misting is a common practice among orchid growers, but it needs to be done correctly to be beneficial. Misting the flowers or crown can lead to rot, which is particularly detrimental to the health of your orchid.
Correct Misting Techniques
Focus on the roots and leaves: Misting should be directed at the roots and leaves, where it can help increase humidity without causing rot.
Use distilled water: Tap water can leave mineral deposits on the leaves, which can damage your orchid over time.
Timing matters: Mist your orchid early in the morning, so any excess moisture has time to evaporate before the cooler night temperatures set in.
Alternatives to Misting
Humidity trays: Place a tray filled with water and pebbles under your orchid’s pot. As the water evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plant.
Humidifiers: These are especially useful in dry climates or during winter when indoor air tends to be dry.
Tip: Avoid misting the crown of the orchid (where the leaves meet the roots). This area is particularly susceptible to rot if moisture sits there for too long.
7. Repotting at the Wrong Time
Orchids are sensitive to changes in their environment,changing pots or medium can stress them out, especially if done at the wrong time. Repotting during bloom can cause the plant to drop its flowers prematurely or even go into shock, setting back its growth for the entire season.
When to Repot Your Orchid
After blooming: The best time to repot is just after the orchid has finished blooming. This is when the plant enters a period of rest and can handle the disruption more easily.
Signs your orchid needs repotting: Roots growing out of the pot, medium breaking down (which leads to poor drainage), or your orchid has been in the same pot for more than two years.
Steps to Properly Repot
1. Prepare your materials: Have fresh orchid medium, a sterilized pot (slightly larger than the current one), and sterilized cutting tools ready.
2. Gently remove the orchid: Carefully take the orchid out of its current pot. If it’s stuck, gently tap the sides of the pot or run a knife around the edges.
3. Trim the roots: Examine the roots and trim away any that are dead or rotting. Healthy roots should be white and firm.
4. Place in new pot: Position the orchid in the new pot and fill in with fresh medium. Ensure the orchid sits at the same level as it did in the previous pot.
5. Water lightly: After repotting, water lightly to settle the medium around the roots but be careful not to overwater.
Tip: Avoid repotting during the plant’s active growing phase, as this can interfere with its development and reduce the chances of blooming.
Final Thoughts
Caring for orchids can be a rewarding experience but it does require a bit of knowledge and attention to detail. By avoiding these common mistakes – overwatering, using the wrong potting medium, improper light and air management, overfertilizing, incorrect misting and mistimed repotting – you can make sure that your orchids not only survive but thrive. Orchids are resilient plants when their basic needs are met, and with proper care, they will reward you with stunning blooms for many years.
