Orchid House Plant Care

The orchid requires optimum conditions to truly thrive within a house. Once a delicate, exotic plant, improved orchid cultivars have made it a valued house plant that anyone may grow with care. The plant's family comprises 900 genera and about 25,000 species, according to the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service.

Light Requirements

• Orchids require abundant light to flourish in the home---placed in a south-facing windowsill, for example. Dust should be regularly removed from the plant's foliage so it may utilize the sunlight well. Despite the plant's high sunlight needs inside the home, the orchid does not do well in direct sunlight outdoors and may suffer sunburn easily.

Watering Considerations

• Orchids should be allowed to dry out completely between waterings using lukewarm water. Allow the water to run freely through the plant. Twice a year the orchid will appreciate a warm shower. Orchids may be placed in a tray of moist pebbles to help raise the humidity around the plant, but never allow the root system to sit in standing water.

Warning

• Orchids require a humidity level of 50 percent to 70 percent. Orchids grown close together will naturally help raise the surrounding humidity. A humidifier will also benefit the plant. Orchids may suffer from fungal and bacterial infections if they do not have adequate air circulation. Never crowd the plant. Some orchids should be repotted every two to three years to maintain their health, but other varieties may remain in the same pot for several years.