Nobody wants to look a gift orchid in the mouth. Or eight gift orchids, which is the exact number of orchids I found myself looking after during a recent house sitting episode.
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My orchid knowledge was minimal at best. How often should they be watered? Do they require a watering can or a mist spray? Do they enjoy direct sunlight?
The whole situation led me to question how many of us find ourselves in this predicament, orchids foisted upon us with no clear instructions on how to keep them alive.
The good news is that orchids are actually pretty low maintenance, which is probably why someone gifted you one in the first place. Jeff Smith, of online florist Flowers for Everyone, says as well as being easy to care for, the Phalaenopsis (or moth) orchid is one of their top-selling plants because they don't take up much room, suit a variety of interior decorating scenarios and stay in flower for months.
"They are far longer-lasting than a cut flower bunch," says Wayne Turville, from the Australian Orchid Nursery. "A bunch of flowers is going to last you five to eight to ten days; a Phalaenopsis will last you six weeks to six months."
So what do you, the inadvertent owner of such a plant, need to do to ensure its longevity? According to Turville, it's common sense.
"Some people leave them in a hot car and they're gone within the first five minutes; some people put them on a windowsill in the hot sun and they're gone on the first day," he says. "Give them what [you] would like to experience in terms of light, temperature and humidity. What the owner's comfortable with, so is the orchid."
This means moderate to bright filtered light and avoiding direct sun, draughts and dark, airless places. Steamy bathrooms with skylights are particularly good because orchids enjoy humidity.
In terms of watering, Turville suggests simply sticking your finger in the base of the plant and checking if it feels dry. If so, it's watering time. If not, don't touch it. It's also important to remember that the container your orchid comes in may not have adequate drainage, which can drown the plant and lead to "root rot".
"When they do get a drink, give them a hell of a drink," says Turville. "Take them out of the glazed ceramic pot, run them under the tap for 30 or 40 seconds, let them drain in the sink until they stop dripping and then put them back in the pot."
What about resurrecting the flowers once they've disappeared? The hard truth is that if your plant has stopped flowering, it's probably time to throw it away. But if you're set on seeing those pretty petals again, your best bet is to count up two to three nodes on the flowering stem and make a very sharp, clean incision just above that node. Turville says this may lead to rebranching and reflowering - but only if you're lucky.
On the other hand, if you're the giver of a gift plant and looking for other low-maintenance options, Smith recommends the Spathiphyllum (or peace lily), Zanzibar plant, Sansevieria (mother-in-law's tongue) or a terrarium (which are enjoying a resurgence after being popular in the 1970s).
And next time you find yourself the caretaker of a moth orchid, remember the golden rule: Do unto the orchid as you would have it do unto you.
