Q&A for How to Care for Orchids

Over watering is a very common problem with orchids. They don't require as much water as a lot of people give them. We recommend a small glass of water per week.

Yes. Leave about 2 inches (5 cm) of the stem until the next flowering season. If it doesn’t regrow from there, you can remove the rest of last season's stem.

Leaving it could cause the orchid to outgrow the pot. They might be able to be separated into two different plants if the roots are able to easily be separated. Replant the orchid into a bigger pot about every 2 years.

New flowers grow from spikes that grow from the top of the plant. If you're seeing new spikes, let them continue to grow -- you might get new flowers.

You can leave these be. If there are a large amount of areal roots this may mean that your plant does not have enough space to grow in its current pot. Some people like to cut them, but they are there to help your plant grow healthy and strong.

These are roots, which emerge from above the soil level and turn silver-grey as they mature. Your orchid is an epiphyte, meaning it sends out "air roots" to attach to branches or rocks, without any connection to the soil. You shouldn't remove them, but you could switch to a terrestrial orchid if you don't like the look. It may also help to move the plant to a larger pot.

This is the natural process of an orchid. It will switch between growing new roots, flowers, flower spikes, and blooming. Once your flowers have run their course they will fall off and your main flower spike will begin to brown at the tip. At this point you can cut it back to the first node and hope for a new spike to grow out of it, or cut it off close to the base and allow for the new roots to begin to grow.

Wait until the orchid is actively sending out new buds or roots, usually right after it's dropped flowers. Some orchids are more finicky about repotting than others.

This depends on the environment. Yes, orchids do like a slight drop in temperature at night to help them bloom, but low humidity or too much sunlight may kill them.

Absolutely not. Drainage is the number one key to keeping your orchid alive. These plants naturally grow on trees in the jungle. So while they receive a great amount of water to their roots, they have time to dry out and breathe. This could be why your leaves are splitting.

Sudden changes in temperature can cause sudden drying or dropping, called bud blast. If you have not had any changes with your temperature, it could be an issue with the roots.

You can divide a large orchid by cutting the base into separate pseudobulbs, or by cutting stalks into pieces with one or two nodes each. It helps to find a guide for your exact orchid species.

This may be because of overwatering or a parasite. The underside of the lead is where the orchid secretes excess water, so it is essential to keep it clean, or your orchid could die. I suggest separating the plant from the rest of your orchids, just in case it's a parasite.

This could be a number of things. Remove it from its current pot and check for root rot at the base, as well as fuzzy white spots (fungal infection). If you find either issue, it's time to report your orchid.

Once it grows three roots, cut it off and pot it for a whole new plant. Now you have two.

That just means the blossoms are at the end of their cycle. Cut them back when they turn brown and keep caring for your orchid until it blooms again.

If you count down two leaves starting from the top, the next shoot is usually a flower spike, which sometimes looks like a mitten. Roots grow from lower on the plant.

No. Orchids are tropical plants and the cold ice could send the plant into shock. Watering with room temperature water is best.

They need more water, most likely. Check the roots. If the roots are brown-ish and mushy, you may be giving too much water or not allowing for drainage.

Using a weak dish soap mix and a clean sponge, go over each leaf one or two times to remove it.

It might be aphids or mealy bugs. Aphids are tiny and mostly green, mealy bugs are white and fluffy. Check the underside of the leaf with a flashlight and a magnifier. If you see anything, use a q-tip wet with isopropyl alcohol to clean the plant. Do this every 10-14 days.

Put the plant in a slightly cooler place, such as a bedroom window, and give it a lot less water. With a bit of luck, it will start blooming again.

Flower stems when cut down will sometimes be used by the orchid for new flowers. If it looks like there is growth on an old flower stem, it is time to celebrate: you will be gifted with flowers again!

If it's broken off completely, cut it above the injury with a sterile knife, and trim the portion left on the plant back to the nearest node or the base. The stalk should survive in water. The main plant will be fine but may not bloom again for a while.

Don't worry, as this is just access sap from the plant as it grows.

If they're outside, bring them inside before the first frost to prevent them from freezing and dying. Then just care for them indoors as you normally would.

Make sure the orchid has enough light. It may have just gone dormant, so be patient.

Common causes for dark tips on leaves are too much sun, too much fertilizer, or too much salt in the water. IF the orchid is in a sunny spot, move it elsewhere. If you fertilized a lot, don't for a few months. If those two cannot be the reason, it is the salt content: use (deionized) water to completely flush the soil from top to bottom and let it drain out completely.

This is totally natural. The flowers are falling off, because the blooms are done. As they fall, the stem turns yellow. Your orchid is entering its resting period. Just go about your normal care routine.

Move the plant closer to a window, out of the sun, and away from heaters, or just relocate it to a cooler climate.