An Orchid for Life
Who doesn’t leave IKEA without a £5 Phalaenopsis orchid? I used to always buy one thinking it is cheaper than a bunch of flowers, and will last longer – at least as long as the gap between my IKEA visits when I can then just buy another. But this is just another example of the perniciousness of our throw-away society and how it affects everyday thinking and living. So, I’m on my guard against it, and looking after my orchids for a bit longer – apparently they can last twenty odd years!
I’ll post below how I have maintained my orchids, but first some pics – here is a white Phalaenopsis that I successfully cut back and repotted last autumn, and which is just coming back in to bloom again now.
You would not recognise this as the same orchid that I was all ready to throw out after its last flowering – there were roots all over the place (outside of the pot), it had stopped flowering, but there was a baby orchid sprouting half way up a stem – it looked a right mess! Here’s what I did:
I cut off that baby orchid with a sharp knife that I had sterilised (simply by holding it over a naked flame and then rinsing in boiling water) then stuck its roots into a pot of orchid compost. I never thought it would take, but it did, and lo and behold a few months later I’ve got a whole new orchid ready to flower:
These baby orchids attached to their parents are called Keiki, but I get confused and call them Kesia after another little (human) baby that was born around the same time as this one was repotted!
Mummy orchid I repotted into a larger pot, and cut the stems back to just above a node. This, alongside regular maintenance, seems to have done the trick (with this and my other pink one, which has only just received its pruning).
The advice I have followed to keep my orchids in shape are as follows:
- Only water once a week, and do so by taking the pot off its saucer, placing in the sink, and giving it a good dowsing. When all the water has seeped though the pot, place back on its saucer, and that is it for next week (or until the compost is dry again)
- Pot in clear pots – they are not that pretty, but apparently the roots like to get a bit of light. I’m on the look out for some wire baskets to place the clear pots in, so they will still get the light but look a bit more aesthetically pleasing.
- Use special orchid compost when repotting. I bought mine in Lidl’s – cheap as chips!
- Feed using a specialist orchid feed, but only during the growing season (usually spring and summer) and when the orchid is in bloom. I’ve done this every other week. I also use an that keeps the leaves looking lovely and healthy.
- Cut back the flowering stems after the flowers have dropped to above a node, and repot after flowering if the existing pot is too small for all the new roots that have formed.
And that’s it. It’s really not a lot of work – weekly watering and a teeny bit of TLC at the end of the flowering season, and you should have an orchid for life. And the excitement of seeing your flower babies grow and bloom is so much more than the excitement of putting a new £5 one in your trolley! There should be a new mantra: an orchid is for life, not just for IKEA.
I’m joining some other bloggers in thinking about how we might be better at in 2016, though the choices we make, including , and . What can you do to swell the tide of our disposable culture?
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oh my word, what completely wonderful photography, I’m blown away!!
Thank you Ali!
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on January 18, 2016 at 8:16 pm
Bravo!! You can come and look after my houseplants!!
Thanks Sue – I don’t think it is down to my greenfingers, I think these orchids are just unkillable!
I’ve been told (by somebody who knows about orchids) that to water them I should place an ice cube in the pot once a week. It will melt slowly and the orchid won’t stand in water which it doesn’t like 🙂 Well done on growing a new one from scratch! x
That’s a good tip Carole. But I would worry it might be a shock to my poor orchids who are used to warmish water when I water them (the big softies). I guess whatever works got to keep doing it!
Orchids have always scared me, in fact any flowering plants seem to die a death by my hand. But it’s so beautiful Molly. Even more so, that you rescued it. Clever clogs! 🙂 x
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Thank you Karen! But I don’t believe you – I’ve seen lovely plants on your blog!
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on January 19, 2016 at 11:07 am
Great post Molly. I didn’t know that about the roots needing light. Good tip. x
Thanks Carole – I always wondered why they were in those unattractive plastic pots, but that’s the reason.
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on January 19, 2016 at 11:13 am
I needed these tips thanks! I never keep my orchids for long so this will be great to try
Thanks Hannah, good luck with keeping yours for longer.
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on January 19, 2016 at 11:26 am
Such an informative post! I’ve always been rubbish at keeping orchids alive but I’m definitely pinning this post for future reference! xx
Great, best of luck with them!
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on January 19, 2016 at 5:50 pm
Wow what a great word ! perniciousness !! I had to google it. Beautiful pictures and great advice Molly. I can’t keep plants of any sort in my home, i always over water them and they die on me. I can’t help myself, I always worry they will be thirsty.
Good luck with your campaign x
Haha, I wrote this at end of working day, I was in big word mode! I know the temptation is always to water, it goes against intuition to let plants go dry, but this is what orchids like (to be left to go dry between waterings).
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on January 20, 2016 at 9:34 am
Lovely post Molly. After doing some work with Dutch orchid growers last year I too thought about the amount of £5 Ikea orchids I had purchased over the years and not maintained. Now I make much more effort in keeping my orchids and have several that have been going for a few years. Didn’t know about cutting of the babies, but will give that a go now too.
Thanks Jen – I think it was your post about orchids that inspired me to start looking after mine better!
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on January 22, 2016 at 4:24 pm
I need you in my life haha! Love Orchids! A x
They are lovely aren’t they – and flower for ages, which is a bonus. Thanks for popping by x
This looks so pretty! And such an interesting post – I knew absolutely nothing about orchids (beyond the fact they look nice) going in! x #HomeEtc
Thanks so much Jess!
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on February 4, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Gosh I have never thought to repot an orchid! I have two and they seem to be doing ok each year without any care at all. Perhaps if I looked after them a bit more they would be even more magnificent!
Well done for keeping your two going Vickie – hopefully they will last many more years. Thanks for stopping by x
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on February 4, 2016 at 12:53 pm
My oldest Orchid is 9 years and I am surprised I have managed it, it has points that it looks dead, once even for a year and then boom a magic flower. I am in need of a few more though as I really do love them xx
Wow, that’s fab – I don’t think any of mine are 9 yet, but getting there. Thanks for commenting.
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on February 4, 2016 at 8:26 pm
Excellent post! I love orchids, but have only managed to get one to re-flower once. I will definitely try this technique next time I have a suitable one. I always wondered why they were in clear plastic pots! #HomeEtc
Thanks so much Lizzie. Best of luck with your next one x
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on February 5, 2016 at 4:45 pm
Aaah I LOVE my Orchids!! And actually, they always seem to do quite well and flower, season after season. I’ve only ever had one that remained flowerless for about a decade — and then I gave up on it. I didn’t know about the transparent pots — that makes sense! I think I need some wire baskets for all mine — let me know when you find some!!! Thanks for linking up lovely — I really appreciate it #HomeEtc
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Hi Caro, thanks for your comment. I’ve found some metal baskets now that seem the right size on both H&M and Dunelm sites – but I’m going to check out the Dunelm ones in store tomorrow. If they are right and I buy then no doubt they will make an appearance here at some point!
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on February 6, 2016 at 11:11 pm
Your photos are just lovely! Makes me want to get an Orchid! #HomeEtc
Awh thanks Claire. Get one 🙂
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on February 7, 2016 at 5:18 pm
I love orchids – and yes great photos – but for some reason they and I don’t get on growing wise. Although at a fiver I’d be tempted to buy one next time I’m at ikea 🙂 #homeetc
I think they are only £4.50 at the moment Stephanie, go on, give one a go! (Thanks for commenting) x
Molly recently posted…In search of the perfect Vase
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on February 7, 2016 at 9:56 pm
I’ve got at least 6 knocking round the house at any one time, although I tend to pick mine up from Tesco. My eldest gets hayfevery around a lot of cut flowers, so I treat myself to orchids instead. I’ve also been quite successful with getting them to reflower, although keeping the leaves dark green is a bit of a battle!
Yay for your successes! I think the key to the leaves being green is not too much light – mine do best on windowsills behind slatted wooden blinds, so they are not getting full on sun, but still get the light. Thanks for popping by, reminds me of the good old Magpie Monday days 🙂
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on February 9, 2016 at 10:33 am
Stunning and so delicate and pretty. I had one once and kept it for ages then suddenly it just went 🙁 I need to get another and re-read your tips. Thanks! Thanks for linking up, love Jess xx
#HomeEtc
Ah that’s a shame. Better luck with your next one Jess! x
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on February 9, 2016 at 12:11 pm
I have just pinned this post to my Pinterest so I can refer back to it, I adore orchids but have never known what to do to maintain them and what bugs me beyond all comprehension is that whenever I come across gardening blogs they always use terms which assume everyone knowns something about gardening and I don’t so I get put off with trying anything. Next time I have an orchid I’ll totally persevere using your laymans terms tips, thank you!! X #HomeEtc
Awh thanks Lins, glad it’s useful x
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on February 9, 2016 at 1:56 pm
They are so lovely, your tips are great and ones I need to listen to as I always have killed mine off! Beautiful pictures of them too, simple white.
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Thank you Steph!
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on February 10, 2016 at 6:08 pm
I am desperately trying to keep 3 IKEA ones alive at the moment. I have new buds on them all and you are right, it is so exciting. Lovely pictures xx p.s I didn’t have a clue what to do until I sent an sos out on my blog for help ha! xx
Exciting! Hope they will flower magnificently x