What we try to do when watering is to get the roots thoroughly wet without having a lot of water soak into the potting medium. To do this, we run a lot of water through all parts of the pot. Most of water will run right out the bottom. The coating on the roots is like a sponge, and you know that if you put a dry sponge in water, it doesn't absorb much right at first. So let the water run for 30 seconds or more. Do not dip the pot in the water and let it soak. Dipping will cause the bark to float up and disturb the roots. Soaking will get water into the medium promoting root rot.

There is no one rule that will work for all orchids, but the saying 'When if doubt, go drought' is good advice for most if you don't have specific watering instructions. The fastest way to kill an orchid is over watering. For orchids in pots, once a week is usually enough, extending to ten days in winter. Mounted orchids can be watered more often, as much as every day if you like to water.

Many beginners have difficulty deciding when to water and when NOT to water. Here are some suggestions to make this easier.

Fertilzing is best done 'weekly, weakly'. Give the plant a little feeding each time you water. Many people do this as a separate step in watering. When the root is fully able to absorb moisture, pour a small amount (about a quart) of half strength plant food. Any balanced type where the numbers are in the range of 20-20-20 will do.

The same thing here, an expanded discussion of fertilizing and at least two more versions of a general fertilizing paragraph like the one above.

Orchids are sometimes badly damaged on the ride home.

Getting orchids to bloom indoors can be a challenge. Yet that is the only choice if we don't have a greenhouse. Napa temperatures get far too low in winter for most orchids outside except Cymbidiums and Zygopetalums.

For growing all year round indoors, the best choices are Paphiopedilums (slipper orchids) and Phaleanopsis (moth orchids). These are both kept evenly moist, should be kept out of direct sunlight and will do fine in a north facing window. Keep them on a humidity tray since most houses are too dry, especially in winter. Make sure the plants are not in the air flow path from the heater.

Another orchid that is common in the home is the Dendrobium. They are grown a little differently. Place them in a south window that has a white (not transparent) sheer curtain. Let them dry out between waterings. For more information on the care of these and other orchid varieties see orchid types

Most orchids can be grown outdoors during the summer. Here in Napa the outdoor season is about from Mother's Day until Halloween, while temperatures are no lower than 40. At the beginning and the end of the season, watch the weather report for sudden changes in temperature.

Vandas and their relatives and Phalaenopsis go out later and come in earlier, with a temperature range above 50.

In Napa we can grow Cymbidiums outdoors all year long. Under an oak tree is ideal, getting lots of light but sheltered from the mid-day heat. Every few years we get a couple of days of hard freeze. Then a plastic tarp over the plant will keep it from cold damage.

Repotting is generally done every 2 years or as soon as a new orchid stops blooming. The primary reason for repotting is to refresh the potting medium since it breaks down over time.

Pots are not the natural environment for many of the orchids we grow. We grow them in pots for our convenience. Therefore, we need to make some intelligent choices to keep the plant happy. It is not all that complex, but a little knowlege will go a long way toward sucessful repotting. Here are some of the factors to consider.

Money doesn't grow on trees, but orchids do.

If an orchid is not a terrestrial orchid, (primarily Cymbidium, Paphiopedilum or Phragmipedium) it probably grows attached to a tree or rock in nature. No matter what the conditions, most orchids will do better mounted than in a pot. For us, pots are usually more convenient, but having mounted orchids has advantages. For one thing you can water all you want.  

Learn more about mounting orchids

Besides snails, mealybugs, red spider mites, scale and cold damage to contend with,

there's sunburn and virus and ants. Oh, my!