Care and Water

Note: Our care and watering guidelines pertain primarily to Phalaenopsis orchids, the most common orchid for indoor environments.  This information may be useful for other orchids as well, but if you're an orchid enthusiast, and are looking for detailed information on a wide variety of orchids, we highly recommend the book "A Bay Area Guide to Orchids and Their Culture:  A publications of the San Francisco Orchid Society.  By Mary E. Gerritsen. 

QUICK TIPS   You may have one or more of the following in your Green Door Design living arrangement.  (more thorough information follows Quick Tips below) 

Touch the soil, 1"-2” down; if it is moist, wait a few more days to water. Almost all plants, and especially orchids, like to be on the dry side before the next water cycle. 

Mini orchids water every 7 to 10 days, 1/4 cup. For Larger orchids, water every 10 to 14 days and use about 1/3 to ½ cup of water, poured directly in center of each orchid plant. (10 days: 1/3 cup. 14 days: ½ cup) If your orchids are in an arrangement, and styled and not easy to take apart, you can water in place. Insure that your decorative container is water-tight. Water your orchids towards the CENTER of the plants, away from large chunks of moss. Do not water at the edges; this will help eliminate water dripping/leaking. 

Water once a week; remove plants from arrangement, take to sink, fully submerge the entire plant in water, for 15 to 20 minutes; gently shake excess water; replace in arrangement. If you don’t have the time to manage a soak, you can occasionally substitute the soak for a thorough mist/spray or a rinse at the sink, but try not to skip the weekly soaking method too often. Note: In the SF Bay Area, they prefer a weekly soak, especially during the warmer months; so if you choose to sync your air plant watering with your 10 or 14-day orchid watering, be sure give the air plants a quick rinse or spray mid cycle, with the soak coming at the 10 or 14-day mark. 

No need to water; they will do beautifully in your arrangement, during the bloom cycle of the orchids, and often will root in place and last longer than the orchids. They can eventually be planted outdoors in a pot or in your garden in partial to full sun. 

If they’re planted and rooted in soil, water them once or twice a month. Pour a small amount of water around each succulent – 3 to 4 tablespoons for larger succulents, less for mini succulents. Once your orchids have finished blooming you can transplant any succulents outdoors if you like. To avoid mildew on succulent petals, give a gently blow to rid the petals of any water droplets.

Water twice a month generally.  (A little less during cooler months, or if they're not in a lot of direct sun).  

If the container drains, water thoroughly until water drips out at base.  If your container does NOT drain, you can still water somewhat thoroughly, just don't over soak them.  Tip out excess water from the container.  Outdoor succulent arrangements can live and thrive for many months to many years.  

Water twice a month generally, with a small amount of water, just 3-4 tablespoons, or 1/4 cup around each larger succulent; less on smaller succulents.  Aim to water around the succulents, not in the center, as some succulents when living indoors don't like center watering. To avoid mildew, give a gently blow to rid the petals of any water droplets.  Indoor succulent arrangements can live and thrive for many weeks to many months. (they won't last as long as your OUTDOOR succulent arrangements).  Just like your orchid arrangements, you can bring your declining INDOOR succulent arrangement back to green door, for a re-do, and you can take home any surviving old succulents and plant them outside where they will often revive and thrive.

Water every 7, 10 or 14 days, depending on plant type, size and location in your home. Ask and note each plant's name and specific needs.  Never let any plants sit in excess water. This is the quickest way to harm your plant. Inspect your plants regularly, for pests and trim off or clip and remove any spent blooms, dead or decaying plant material. See Bug information for more detail on bugs. 

Most orchids are in bloom for several weeks to several months, and bloom one or two times per year. Many orchids need very bright sunlight or a greenhouse environment in which to re-spike with fresh flower buds. But if you purchase your orchids already in bud and starting to open, orchids will bloom to their full potential, beautifully, in indoor environments with indirect light (or a little direct light such as skylights or near a window), and watering 2 to 3 times per month. 

The number one cause for an orchid to have less than peak performance, or experience early flower wilt, and/or bud drop is insufficient light. Another factor is too much water… the roots quickly rot when over-watered. There are over 30,000 species of orchids. Many of them are epiphytic…in nature, they grow from the bark of trees, in the air... they don't like to sit in water, and in fact, don't need much water at all. 

Our orchids (grown in a moss medium) like to be watered once every 7, 10 or 14 days - depending on the size of the plant, the potting medium (bark or moss), time of year, and home environment.  Be sure to ask about watering when you buy your orchid. Many of the arrangements at Green Door Design are set in place with moss and/or rocks, and are not meant to be taken apart – and this is ok. We give our clients simple, clear watering instructions for their arrangements. If you’re not sure, go with the 10-day cycle in the warmer months, and the 14-day cycle during the cooler months.  (see below for specifics)

FOR ORCHIDS GROWN IN MOSS MEDIUM 

For Moss Medium orchids  - that are also mossed or rocked in place - and not to be removed from their decorative container, we’ve found it works well to water in place with the following guidelines. 

About 10” to 12” tall. (and in 2” diam. plastic grow pots) Water in center of each orchid, once every 7 to 10 days; 1/4 cup water in each orchid. During warm months, or if your home is bright and on the warm side, go for a 7-day cycle. During cooler months, or if your home is bright and on the cooler side, go for a 10 day cycle. 

About 18” to 30” tall (and in 4” to 6" diam plastic grow pots) Water in center of each orchid, once every 10 to 14 days; 1/3 to 1/2 cup water in each orchid. During warm months, or if your home is bright/warm, go for a 10-day cycle, 1/3 cup. During cooler months, or if your home is bright/cooler, go for a 14- day cycle. 1/2 cup. 

Bark Medium orchids are easy to take to the sink. At green door, we usually don’t have bark medium orchids for sale, or in our arrangements. But if you have bark medium orchids, it’s best to water them every 7 to 10 days; at the sink, let water run through the bark for a few seconds. Drain, and return to decorative pot. Never let the orchid sit in water. 

FERTILIZING 

Feed when dormant, not when in bloom. Follow the instructions with general orchid fertilizer or a fertilizer for the specific species of orchid. In general, small amounts of orchid fertilizer, every month or two, will do the trick. 

For most Phalaenopsis orchids in the Bay Area that are living indoors, indirect bright light is ideal, along with a little bit of direct sunlight. They also love the passing light from skylights! Too much direct sunlight, however, especially during warmer months, may not be well tolerated. Many orchids will bloom fully and beautifully in medium light areas as well. 

Most orchids prefer the normal temperatures in a home - 62 to 75 during the day, and 55 to 65 during the night. Orchids may bloom faster in very warm environments, and may last longer in cooler temperatures. Never place your orchid in direct contact with air conditioning or heating vents. 

When your orchids have finished blooming, you can keep and nurture towards their next blooming cycle (get Mary E. Gerritsen's book above);  you can compost them if they're not looking great and healthy; you can give them to a friend or neighbor that has that orchid green thumb; you can bring them back to green door, where we pass them on. The last option is to “board” your orchid collection for a monthly fee at a greenhouse - we can refer you to this service. 

Water when the soil is dry to the touch 1”- 2” down. This will be a 7, 10 or 14-day cycle – depending on the size and type of plant, placement in your home, and season. There are some interior plants that will require even less water… once every 3 to 4 weeks, such Sansaveria Snake plants. For most smaller to medium sized indoor plants, water at the sink, or outside with the hose, or in-place with the proper set up. At the sink or outside: water with just enough water that a little bit drains from the soil; let it drain fully and return plant to its decorative container. 

Our recommended set up has three components: (Do this! Your plants will drain properly, AND it will protect your floors from water damage.)

 

 1. Your plant lives directly in a PLASTIC GROW POT that drains. 

 2. A DEEP PLASTIC LINER sits under the plastic grow pot, to catch excess water. 

 3. A DECORATIVE CONTAINER houses the plant and liner and is ideally water tight. 

If you have this set up, there will be no water spills on the floor and thus you will protect your floors from water damage! Also, you will NOT need an exterior saucer – they don’t look great inside, and are best suited for outside planter set ups. 

To review: Your plant continues to live directly in its PLASTIC GROW POT. The grow pot then sits in a DEEP PLASTIC LINER, which then is placed in your DECORATIVE WATER TIGHT CONTAINER. Another bonus – it’s much easier when it’s repotting time. Just remove plant and place in a bigger plastic grow pot, with fresh soil. You can shift things around and purchase a new decorative container if needed and use your smaller decorative container for a new plant…. A win win! 

WHEN WATERING LARGER PLANTS that can’t go to the sink, or bathtub, slowly pour small amounts of water, around different areas of the soil, with enough water so that a little comes out of bottom into your plastic liner. Peek inside and insure that you didn’t overwater… if you see too much excess water, paper towel it out, make a note and water with less water next time. 

Touch the soil, down 1” to 2”. If it’s dry to the touch, then water. If it’s still moist, or even slightly moist, wait a few days and check again. You’ll get the rhythm of each plant’s water needs as time goes by. NEVER LET PLANTS SIT IN EXCESS WATER. Most plants die from overwatering. Many plants want to be slightly dry before the next drink. Ask and jot down your plant's name, and specific watering needs at time of purchase.  

This way they will get an even distribution of light, and their growth will be more even. Plus it’s good to take a look at the entire plant regularly, to inspect for pests or other issues, and prune off shedding yellowing or brown leaves. 

FERTILIZE 

Every month or so with a good liquid plant food. Don’t over do it… just a small amount is fine every month or so. 

You can spray your plants w/ a gentle water stream (the shower works well- or outside with the hose) monthly, or several times a year to clean the foliage. A large damp sponge works well with large leaf plants such as Ficus Lyrata (fiddle leaf fig).