Home Improvement School

Q: Mr. Finch, how do I keep a potted orchid alive?

A: Orchids are just as easy to grow as any plant. But what you need to do to keep it alive and blooming depends a lot on what KIND of orchid it is and what it is planted in.

There are tens of thousands of orchids, and theyre as different in their requirements as cactus are from water lilies. So if youre just starting with orchids, its kinda dangerous to start out with a supermarket orchid, for this very simple reason: The supermarket people dont know what kind of orchid theyre selling, and that means you dont know what kind of orchid you have, or whether it needs cactus conditions, water lily conditions, or something in between.

Buy from a reputable orchid grower, ask the grower what conditions that orchid needs, and youll be set.

But alas, theres something about your questions that leads me to believe your orchid was purchased from some place between the canned corn and the Jiffy peanut butter. For these types of anonymous orchids, I can offer a few generalizations: Most orchid failures result from not enough sunlight, and either too much water or too little.

Its not that watering is all that difficult or even has to be all that precise. Theres a wide range inside of which you can get it right. But you will have problems if the orchid mix stays wet all the time you should let the mix dry out for a day or two in between watering. And you will also have problems if the orchid goes for a week or more with no water.

So how do you determine whether your orchid is getting enough water? Never allow a pool of water to stay in contact with your soil mix or your orchid roots. If the pot the orchid is growing in doesnt drain, be sure to turn the container upside down completely about a half hour after you water, so that any water in the bottom of the pot drains out.

Your finger has nearly miraculous powers of perception, and you can use it to tell if your orchid soil is wet or not. Until you get used to the rhythm of watering, use your finger to determine whether the mix is moist in the first couple of inches. If it is, wait until this upper layer dries out before watering! But if the whole mix feels very dry, you know its time to water again. Expert orchid growers use other cues. Some have learned to tell when an orchid needs water by the weight of the pot: When it starts feeling unusually light, theyll water again. Others adjust the soil medium the orchid is growing in to suit their own water habits.

Personally, I enjoy growing orchids such as vandas, which typically arent grown in any soil. If theyre grown with their roots freely exposed to the air, you simply cant over water them. But youll also need to keep them in a humid place (which is why mine stay outside most of the year).

Its hard to know how much sunlight your orchid needs, but if youre growing it inside, it very likely needs more than youre giving it. Put it as close as you can (within a foot or two) of a VERY bright window, but do not put it in a HOT window a window that gets very intense and direct western or eastern sun. A south facing window is often ideal, as long as theres not too much direct sunlight coming through the window (that is, the orchid shouldnt be able to see the sun at all during mid-day, unless its early in the morning or very late in the day or in the midst of winter).One way to tell if your orchid is getting enough sunlight: You should be able to cast a distinct shadow on the orchid by putting your hand between the plant and the window, even though theres no direct sunlight pouring through the window. And orchids that get enough sunlight typically have light olive green leaves. If the leaves are very dark green, its likely theyre not getting enough sun.

If the orchid is getting too much direct sun, it will let you know QUICKLY by producing scalded yellow and brown patches on the leaves. Until youre certain about the amount of light, watch the orchid closely for several days, and move it out of direct sun if the yellow and brown patches occur. As the orchid gets used to more sunlight, you can move it back a little closer to the window.

Orchids will benefit from a little fertilizer. But, I stress, a LITTLE fertilizer. Orchids will burn if you apply the fertilizer too heavily. Get an orchid fertilizer, and use it exactly as specified on the package.