Housewife tips to care for orchids properly and keep them light. Watering and caring for orchids made easy. Those who have not yet dealt with the care of orchids may think that these beautiful flowering plants are very demanding when it comes to caring. After all, they originally come from the rainforest and thrive there, especially on trees.

Water orchids properly

At least as far as “watering it right” is concerned, caring for orchids is absolutely simple! It is usually sufficient if the orchid is watered once a week. Simply submerge the planter with the plant in its own plastic pot and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This allows the plant substrate to absorb and store water.

Then pour off all the water and let the plastic pot with the plant dry on the drainboard of the sink until no more water drips out. In this way, you avoid the formation of waterlogging – something that orchids do not tolerate at all because they rot quickly! Then put the plants back in the cachepot and the plants are taken care of for a week.

Here is a little tip that you can use to check whether the plants need water: lift the pot, if it feels very light or too light, the plant needs to be watered, if the pot feels rather heavy, Is the plant substrate still moist enough? With the right watering technique, you will surely enjoy your beautiful plants for a long time!

The right potting soil for orchids (substrate)

Normal potting soil is not recommended for orchids, since orchids are mostly epiphytes (tree-tops). You, therefore, need special potting soil or a special substrate made of scattered peat, fern roots, and crushed bark. Perlite or Styromull should be added to these organic substrate components to promote aeration of the soil.

Not too much sun for orchids

Don’t put your orchids in a sunny spot and water them wisely. If you give it too much water, the roots will rot. Orchids don’t like footbaths. It is best to only water them once a week.