Orchids: Your Complete Guide to Care, Meaning & Gifting
Read time - 12 mins
A team of flower, style and design experts and enthusiasts. We love sharing advice on all things floral and offering top tips on expressing yourself and your emotions.
A team of flower, style and design experts and enthusiasts. We love sharing advice on all things floral and offering top tips on expressing yourself and your emotions.
Distinctive, bright and beautiful - there are plenty of reasons orchids are so popular. But they’ve also picked up a bit of a reputation for being tricky to care for.
Truthfully? It’s not deserved.
All an orchid needs is the right TLC and it can last years and years. We’ll show you exactly how in this orchid plant and flower guide; from understanding the different types of orchids to looking after orchids at home, repotting orchids properly, and choosing the perfect one as a gift.
Explore Our Orchid Plants Range
What Makes Orchids So Unique?
Orchids aren’t like typical houseplants, and there are plenty of reasons why they stand out from the crowd:
- They grow in bark, not soil.
- Their roots need air - and even light.
- Their blooms can last 6-12 weeks.
- The plant itself can live for decades.
Compared to cut flowers that last 5-7 days, an orchid offers extraordinary longevity. That’s part of what makes it such a meaningful gift.
You’ll often see orchids sold in clear plastic pots. This is deliberate, because orchid roots photosynthesise, so light actually helps them thrive. The clear pot also makes it easier to monitor root health (more on that shortly).
Elegant and long-lasting, orchids bring a touch of calm confidence to any room.
Did You Know?
- There are around 28,000 species in the orchid family (Orchidaceae).
- There’s even one that looks exactly like a bee (fittingly called the bee orchid).
- While most orchids are tropical, at least four species live north of the Arctic Circle.
Don’t let them fool you, orchids are far tougher (and more fascinating) than they first appear.
Orchid Meaning: What Do Orchids Symbolise?
Orchid Colour Meanings
- White – Innocence and new beginnings
- Pink – Grace and admiration
- Red – Passion and deep love
- Yellow – Friendship and joy
- Purple – Respect and admiration
- Green – Good health and longevity
- Orange – Pride and confidence
Choosing the right colour lets your gift say more, without having to say much at all.
Types of Orchids: Each One With Its Own Personality
There are thousands of orchids in the world, but these are the stars you’ll most often see in UK homes. Each has its own look, personality and gifting sweet spot.
Orchid Care Guide: How to Look After Orchids
Are Orchids Difficult to Care For?
Not at all, they’re just different.
Most issues with caring for orchids come from overwatering. Orchids hate sitting in water, and their roots will rot quickly if left soggy.
Once you understand how and when to water, they’re surprisingly straightforward.
Need more care tips? Explore our dedicated flower care guide to keep any bouquet looking beautiful for longer.
How to Water Orchids
There are three key ways to water orchids indoors. But first, it’s important to always remember: orchids hate being overwatered.
Our other top tip is to use water that’s been boiled and cooled, or that’s been distilled. It might seem fussy, but tap water includes a lot of impurities that might be fine for us but aren’t so good for orchids (especially when you mist them, which we’ll come to soon).
Option 1: Submerge Your Orchid
Most orchids come in a clear inner pot inside a decorative outer pot.
- Most orchids come in a clear container full of potting material (like soil and bark) which then sits in a holding pot. This is handy for submerging your orchid. Using distilled or recently boiled and cooled tap water, fill the clear orchid pot and holding pot so that the orchid roots are fully submerged.
- Fill the pot until just under the crown (the part where the stem meets the roots) of the orchid and leave it to soak for 10-15 minutes. After that, take the clear pot out and allow it to drain for 5 minutes. Pour the remaining water out of your holding pot.
- Once the orchid has drained away any excess water, pop it back inside the holding pot and return it to its home. Voila, your orchid’s thirst is on its way to being quenched.
Option 2: Ice Cubes
Yes, that’s right. Ice cubes straight from a small/medium sized ice cube tray are a great way to water orchids. Placing one small ice cube twice a week can:
- Improve absorption
- Prevent root rot
- Avoid overwatering
- Make your life easier
Just ensure no water pools at the base. If you hear any sloshing, empty it out.
Option 3: Traditional Watering
Pour roughly a quarter of a glass of water through the bark once a week.
Top watering tips:
- Water at the base, not on leaves.
- Wipe off excess water from leaves.
- Never leave roots sitting in water.
When to Water Orchids
The time of year plays a role in when and how much you should water your orchids. Long summer days may mean more water, and winter usually means less.
However, the best indicator of when your orchid needs water is always the roots.
- Green roots = perfect hydration
- Brown and soggy = too much water
- Grey or white = thirsty
You can also check the bark with your finger. Dry bark means it’s a good time to water, and damp means you should wait.
Light, Location & Humidity
The Shadow Test
On a sunny day at midday, hold your hand above the leaves:
- No shadow = not enough light
- Soft grey shadow = perfect
- Dark grey shadow = too much
The Shadow Test
On a sunny day at midday, hold your hand above the leaves:
Should You Mist Orchids?
Yes! Orchids love humidity, and misting them is a great way to maintain hydration without the risk of overwatering.
Mist your orchid up to twice a day using distilled or boiled-and-cooled water. Tap water minerals can leave white marks and block moisture absorption.
Signs your orchid needs misting:
- Slow growth
- Flower buds dropping
- Brown leaf tips
Repotting Orchids
You should aim to repot your orchid every 1-2 years, ideally after it has fully flowered. However, there are a few other reasons why you might need to repot outside of this schedule.
Consider repotting your orchid if:
- The roots overflow
- The bark breaks down
- The plant feels unstable
Make sure you always use fresh orchid bark, trim dead roots, and avoid burying the crown of your orchid when repotting.
Pruning Orchids
When your orchid blooms, its flowers can last up to 12 weeks. After that, the flowers will most likely fade or fall off, and that’s your cue to start pruning. Taking a pair of secateurs or a knife to a beloved plant might be daunting, but it’s really important to encourage new blooms and growth.
Just follow our guide and you’ll soon be pruning orchids like a pro.
How to Prune
1. Before you start snipping, always start by checking the health of your stem:
2. Sterilise your tools
3. Trim dead leaves
4. Trim your stem
Orchid FAQs
With the right care, an orchid can live for decades. While individual blooms last anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks, the plant can continue to rebloom year after year, becoming a long-term companion in your garden or home.
Most orchids, including the popular Phalaenopsis, are not toxic to cats or pets. However, it’s always a good idea to prevent pets from chewing on the leaves, as it could still cause some stomach upset.
Learn more about which plants and flowers are safe for animals in our pet-friendly flowers guide.
Orchids are unique in that they grow in bark, not soil. Their roots need air and light to thrive, and they’re quite different from typical houseplants because they don’t like to sit in water. Most houseplants are watered thoroughly, but orchids thrive when their roots are allowed to dry out a little between waterings.
To encourage an orchid to rebloom, you’ll need to prune the stem above a node after it has finished flowering. Keep the orchid in a bright spot with indirect light, and continue to water and feed it as usual. A slight temperature drop at night can also speed up the reblooming process. Patience is key, as it might take a few months for new orchid buds to appear.
If you’ve received an orchid as a gift, follow these simple care tips:
- Place your orchid in bright, indirect light.
- Lightly water once a week or when the roots turn silvery (don’t overwater!).
- Use distilled or boiled, cooled water.
- Feed once a month using orchid-specific fertiliser.
- Ensure proper drainage and avoid leaving it in standing water.
If you’re unsure about the light or temperature, orchids typically do best in stable, room-temperature conditions away from intense heat or cold.
Orchids are ideal for a wide range of occasions, including:
- Anniversaries – Symbolising love and respect
- Birthdays – For elegance and long-lasting beauty
- Get well soon – Orchids signify strength and vitality
- New homes – A thoughtful way to bring beauty to a new space
- Thank you gestures – An elegant way to express gratitude
They’re graceful and beautiful, making them a suitable fit for almost any occasion.
Make Their Day with the Gift of an Orchid
Orchids aren’t the fragile divas they’re made out to be. You might even be surprised at just how resilient, elegant, and quietly confident they can be. And with the right care, they’ll reward you with weeks (or even years) of beauty.
Whether you’re choosing one for your own home or sending it to someone special, an orchid is a beautiful way to show your appreciation. It’s thoughtful and long-lasting, while delivering plenty of symbolism and a strong message of admiration, beauty, strength, and affection.
And because orchids suit so many interiors, from bright kitchens to calm living spaces, they’re great for striking a balance between the elegant and personal. A living plant that continues to grow and bloom over time can be a lovely reminder of the relationship behind the gesture.
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