Orchid growing is a splendid hobby for those who appreciate Mother Nature's beauty and grace. While enjoying orchids' exotic looks, one may think it's impossible to grow them indoors. However, nowadays a wide range of orchid species and hybrids as well as availability of orchid growing supply stores gives anyone a chance to nurture these amazing flowers at home. But don't get it wrong, it does take patience and love, no wonder an orchid has been a symbol of commitment and love for centuries.



The minute you start considering this challenging yet very rewarding hobby you may say: "OK! Great, but exactly how do I grow orchids indoors? How do I pollinate an orchid? How to get an orchid to bloom? What kind of orchid care products do I need?" Here is your first and most important orchid growing tip - buy a good book on orchids. It will guide you through all the stages of home orchid growing.

To ensure flawless orchid growing process you need to consider the following main factors:

1. The orchid growing medium. It is important to keep in mind that very few orchid species require soil to take root in. Vast majority of orchid plants grow in sand and pebbles, others - attached to a piece of bark or cork.

2. Lighting. This one's a little tricky. Simply put, no light - no blossom, too much light - burned orchid. You will need to maintain a perfect balance of light and shade to be able to enjoy your orchid plant to the fullest. Many hobbyists use more manageable light sources such as fluorescent or LED lights to make this part of orchid care easier.

3. Temperature. Another great home orchid growing tip to follow is to make sure that you have the right temperature at all times. For those orchid plants that have low temperature needs, what you could do is to place them on the floor. And for those that may need warmer temperatures, you could use curtains to mimic the warm weather or you may use electric fans to help circulate warm or cool air that is needed. Never expose your orchid plant to freezing or too high temperatures.

4. Watering. Although the amount of water depends on many variables, one basic rule is: watering doesn't mean soaking! The orchids cannot tolerate being soaked in water, because it may cause fungus to grow and eventually kill your plant. For successful orchid growing you will need to make sure that the excess water always drains through the growing medium.

Huge variety of orchid species and their different habitat requirements make it impossible to accurately capture all the facts and tips about home orchid growing in a single article. Be sure to consult your orchid growing book and orchid nursery to learn everything about your plant and its needs.