Moth Orchid, Medium (Multiple Colours)

Light

A blooming orchid can be kept in almost any light conditions (even low light) and look great for several weeks to months.

To maintain the long term health of the plant though, it is best to keep it in medium to high light - a location where the plant can have a partial or full view of the sky. Lots of bright light is especially important for when you're attempting to encourage your plant to rebloom. Exposure to direct sun for 2-3 hours per day is OK.

To learn about the light conditions required to encourage your orchid to rebloom, see the Blooming section below.

Watering

When to water your orchid.
Allow your orchid potting mix (bark) to become completely dry all the way through the pot before watering. In average household conditions, this will be roughly every 1-2 weeks. If your orchid is still potted in its clear nursery pot, have a look at their roots. If they are green, they are still moist and don't need more water. Dry roots will be a silvery grey colour indicating that it's time for a drink.

How to water your orchid.
Water your orchid's potting medium thoroughly by soaking the pot in a container filled with water for 10-15 minutes, or place it under a faucet of running water for 1-2 minutes. Wipe the leaves dry and allow excess water to drain before returning to its decorative pot. Try not to get the blooms wet, this can shorten their lifespan.

Blooming

How to get your orchid to rebloom.

Step 1: Cut your orchid.

Using a sharp, clean shears or knife, cut the stem beneath the expired blooms and above any of the nodes - the ridge or knuckle along the stem of a plant. This node is where the new flower spike will emerge.

Step 2: Place your plant in very high light.

If your plant is not already in a bright location, move it to a spot where it can have a wide view of the sky and preferably a few hours of direct sun each day.

Step 3: Water + light + patience = flowers

Now that you've placed your plant in a bright spot, continue to water your plant as detailed in the Watering section above and keep an eye out. In approximately 2-4 weeks, you should see a flower spike emerge from the node below where you made the cut and new blooms won't be far behind.