The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) is the easiest orchid for a home and the one sold in most stores. Its flowers last two to three months, and with the right care it blooms again every year. Orchids are not soil plants: they are epiphytes that cling to trees in the wild, so they need airy bark, not potting soil. This page covers light, watering, repotting and getting a second bloom.
Orchid at a glance
| Type | Houseplant |
|---|---|
| Season | Perennial |
| Sun | Bright indirect light |
| Plant spacing | 0 in |
| Row spacing | 0 in |
| Per square foot | 1 |
| Seed depth | At surface |
| Days to maturity | Moth orchids rebloom 6–9 months after finishing |
| How to start | Repot a moth orchid right after it finishes blooming, every 1 to 2 years, or sooner if the bark breaks down into mush. |
| Water | 0.5 in per week |
These are the same numbers our plant spacing, square foot and harvest date calculators use. See every crop in the plant database.
When to plant orchid
Repot a moth orchid right after it finishes blooming, every 1 to 2 years, or sooner if the bark breaks down into mush. Orchids prefer steady warmth: daytime temperatures of 20 to 28°C (68 to 82°F) and nights not below about 15°C (60°F). A cool night, about 5 to 8 degrees cooler than the day, for a few weeks in fall helps trigger a new flower spike.
How to plant orchid
- Use orchid bark mix. Fir bark chunks, sometimes mixed with perlite or charcoal, give roots air. Never use regular potting soil.
- Choose a clear pot with drainage holes. Orchid roots photosynthesize, and a clear pot lets you see root health.
- Trim dead roots. Cut away brown, mushy or papery roots with clean scissors. Healthy roots are firm and green or silvery.
- Set the plant at the same height. Spread the roots through the bark and keep the base of the leaves just above the surface.
- Wait a few days to water. This lets cut roots heal.
Caring for orchid
Give bright, indirect light, such as an east window or a south or west window with a sheer curtain. Leaves should be bright medium green; dark green leaves mean too little light and yellowish or red-tinged leaves mean too much. Direct midday sun can scorch them.
Water about once a week: soak the pot in room-temperature water for 10 to 15 minutes, drain fully, and never let water sit in the crown of the plant. Water less in winter. Silver-gray roots mean the plant is thirsty; green means it is hydrated. The overwatering checker can help if leaves wrinkle or go limp.
Feed weakly, weekly, with a quarter-strength balanced fertilizer, and flush the pot with plain water once a month to remove salts. Moth orchids like humidity of 40 to 70 percent.
After the last flower falls, cut the spike just above a node about 2.5 cm below the lowest flower to encourage a side branch, or cut it at the base if it turns brown. Orchids are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Companion plants
| Grow nearby | Other epiphytes such as bromeliads and air plants, and humidity-loving ferns |
|---|---|
| Keep apart | Cacti and succulents that need dry air |
Orchids do well in a bright, humid spot, such as a bathroom with a window, near other plants that like moist air. Check other pairings with the companion plant finder.
Common problems
| Problem | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No blooms | Healthy leaves but no flower spike, usually from low light or no cool night period | Move to brighter indirect light and give cooler nights for a few weeks in fall. |
| Wrinkled leaves | Leaves are leathery and wrinkled from thirst or damaged roots | Check the roots; water properly and trim rotted roots. |
| Root rot | Brown, mushy roots and yellowing lower leaves from overwatering | Repot in fresh bark and water less often. See the yellow leaf identifier. |
| Bud blast | Buds drop before opening after drafts, moves or dry air | Keep the plant in one steady spot away from vents and fruit. |
| Mealybugs and scale | White cottony masses or brown bumps on leaves | Dab with rubbing alcohol. See the pest identifier. |
| Aerial roots | Silver roots growing out of the pot | This is normal; do not cut healthy aerial roots. |
Not sure what you are looking at? The plant problem identifier ranks likely causes from the symptoms you see.
When and how to harvest
Orchids are grown for their flowers. Each flower spike can carry blooms for two to three months. After blooming the plant rests, then sends up a new spike, usually within 6 to 9 months with good light and a cooler fall night period.
You can also propagate a moth orchid from keikis, small plantlets that sometimes grow on the flower spike. Wait until the keiki has roots about 5 cm long and a few leaves, then pot it in a small container of fine bark.
Plan your orchid
- Plant spacing calculator: how many plants fit your bed
- Planting calendar: sowing and transplant dates for your frost dates
- Frost dates by ZIP code: your last spring and first fall frost
- Harvest date calculator: when your crop will be ready
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should I plant orchids?
Space orchids 0 inches apart in rows 0 inches apart. In a square foot garden, plant 1 per square foot.
How deep do I plant plants?
Set the plant in bark at the same height as before, with the base of the leaves just above the surface and roots spread through the mix.
How long do orchids take to grow?
Moth orchids usually rebloom within 6 to 9 months of finishing, given bright indirect light and cooler fall nights.
How much water do orchids need?
About 0.5 inches of water a week, from rain and watering combined. Soak the pot for 10 to 15 minutes about once a week and drain fully; water less in winter.
How often should I water an orchid?
About once a week, by soaking the pot for 10 to 15 minutes and draining it fully. Water when the roots turn silvery and less in winter.
How do I make my orchid bloom again?
Give bright indirect light and cooler nights for a few weeks in fall, and cut the old spike just above a node to encourage a side branch.