Orchid Indoor Plant: Orchid Flower Plant

Perhaps one of the most highly coveted of ornamental plants, the orchid is delicate and graceful, available in a wide range of colours and sizes depending on the variety. Whether you place it on your kitchen window sill or your coffee table, this exotic beauty is suitable for any type of décor.


Orchid: Plant Guide

Difficulty level: as long as you provide it with the proper growing conditions, the orchid is not difficult to take care of.

Light: orchids love light and as a general rule, they need plenty of it – around 12 to 14 hours each day. South and east-facing windows are the best spots for placing your orchid, however, they also thrive well under artificial light.

Air purifier: the plant can remove xylene from the air and release oxygen at night, making it a good bedroom companion.

Pet and child-friendly: your pets or children and orchids can happily coexist since the plant is non-toxic as long as they don’t stay nibbling on it.

Ideal for: anniversaries, any other occasion.

Orchid: Plant Background

Origin: ​one of the most diverse specimens in the plant world, orchids is the largest family of flowering plants with over 30,000 different species and around 200,000 hybrids. Due to its ability to adapt to its given environment, the flower can be found in every continent with the exception of Antarctica. Most cultivated orchids originate from the tropics, wherein their natural habitat they attach themselves either to the bark of trees or on the surface of other plants. The orchid’s name derives from the Greek word orchis which means testicle due to the twin tubers in some species.

Symbolism: due to its name, it symbolises fertility and sexuality, while it is closely linked to the concept of love. In ancient Greece, for instance, women believed that if the father of an unborn baby ate new orchid tubers, then the baby would be a boy, whereas if the mother ate them, then the child would be a girl. During the Victorian era, the flower became a symbol of elegance and beauty, whereas in China, they are seen as emblems of elegance and friendship.

Fun facts: ​Aztecs used to mix vanilla, a type of orchid, with chocolate to create a potion that was thought to give power and strength. Known for their fragrance, they are widely used in perfumes and aromatherapy, while vanilla extract is added in sweets and other baked goods to enhance their flavour. In China, orchids are cultivated for their medicinal properties, used as remedies for coughs and diseases that affect the kidneys, lungs, stomach and eyes.

Orchid: Plant Care

Watering: as a general rule of thumb, orchids need plenty of water but always ensure that the soil has dried out between watering. You can check this by poking your finger about an inch into the soil. Also, avoid a water-logged pot since the bloom will end up suffocating and dying. Having said that, the orchid does enjoy humidity. To increase the humidity levels in your home, use a humidifier or mist your plant every so often.

Food: orchids need fertilisers that have all the necessary nutrients to sustain healthy growth. Fertilise with a liquid variety weekly or bi-weekly when they are producing new growth. Stop fertilising the plant altogether once it has gone dormant.

Pruning: the only pruning needed with this plant is to eliminate any spent stems and dead flowers. Cut the stem just above the bottom of its joint with a pair of sterile scissors, whereas for orchid varieties that have a pseudobulb, cut just above it.

Ideal temperature: this depends on the variety. For instance, orchids native to the humid tropics prefer temperatures that range between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius, whereas high-altitude ones prefer temperatures that are slightly lower – 15 to 21 degrees Celsius.

Avoid: ​overly dry air, direct heat and droughty rooms.

Pests: your plant may get infected with scales and mealybugs. Both can be removed by hand and once you do so clean the affected leaves with soapy water which will remove any residual stickiness and will kill any remaining insects. An insecticide can help you solve this problem even further if the infestation persists.



Important Information


Photography location:​ The Cumberland Boutique Hotel, Valletta, Malta.

Dimensions: N/A


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