Orchids bloom gorgeous flowers with a simple watering ‘trick’

For those looking to add some colour to their homes using a touch of , Phalaenopsis orchids, otherwise known as moth orchids, are a great place to start.

It’s widely known that houseplants help to , but how do we make sure we’re taking good care of them?

These popular floral tend to bloom once a year, lasting for as long as three months before then wilting and dropping their flowers. 

To ensure you get the optimal life out of your orchids, it’s important to check that you’re watering them correctly. Thankfully, gardening expert at , Angela Slater, shared the right way we should be watering these plants throughout the winter so they blossom beautifully. 

She said: “The trick to watering Phalaenopsis is to wait until the thick roots go silver, then dip the whole pot into tepid water for a 10 seconds.”

The gardening expert explained how these types of orchids rely less on water in the winter, because this time is considered its “resting period”, as opposed to its “growth period”.

When watering Phalaenopsis orchids, the key is to not overwater them, as it will kill them far more quickly than if you were to underwater them. It’s this characteristic that makes them an ideal houseplant for forgetful plant parents. 

Orchids like this are far more forgiving to forgetful plant parents than if they are overwatered, which can lead to root rot.

Angela further explained how types of orchids like Miltonias cope better when they’re constantly damp, whereas more common types, like Phalaenopsis orchids, must be dried out before getting a drop of water. 

The expert also gave tips on the best method for watering orchids, saying: “Don’t water it by pouring water into the top, as it just runs straight through, or by standing the pot in a saucer of water, as the bark does not have the same abilities as compost, which can draw up the water.”

As well as these watering tips, Angela advised that orchids can benefit from occasionally benign misting in the mornings and being fertilised, explaining that every other time you water your orchid, you should be feeding it with a fertiliser made up to the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.

She said: “Only ever use a bloom feed; you never need a growth feed or a balanced fertiliser. Use the fertiliser, which you make into a solution, and dip the plant in as you would when watering it.”