How to Care for an Orchid at Home: Light, Watering, and Blooming
updated 11 July 2026
Quick answer
Give a phalaenopsis bright, indirect light from an east or west window, temperatures of 18-25°C (64-77°F), and water it by soaking once the roots turn silvery. During the growing season, feed it every 2-3 waterings with half a dose of orchid fertilizer. After blooming, cut a green spike back above the second or third node, and cut a dried one off at the base.
Step by step
- 1
Put the orchid in the right window
A phalaenopsis likes plenty of bright but indirect light. An east or west window is best, where the sun comes in during the morning or afternoon rather than blazing at noon. In a south window, shield the plant with a sheer curtain; in a north window there may not be enough light for blooming.
- 2
Get the temperature and air right
The optimal temperature is 18-25°C (64-77°F) during the day and a few degrees less at night. Protect the plant from cold drafts and from the hot air above a radiator, which dries out the leaves. A phalaenopsis copes poorly with temperatures below 15°C (59°F).
- 3
Water by soaking
Stand the pot in soft, room-temperature water for 15-30 minutes, then drain it thoroughly. Do this when the roots visible through the clear pot turn silvery, usually every 7-14 days. Don't leave water in the crown of the plant or in the cover pot.
- 4
Feed during the growing season
From spring to early autumn, add a fertilizer made for orchids to the water every 2-3 waterings. Use half the dose stated on the package, because a phalaenopsis doesn't like overfeeding. In winter, when the plant rests, cut back on feeding or stop it altogether.
- 5
Deal with the spike after blooming
Once the last flowers drop, look at the color of the flower spike. If it's still green, cut it about a centimeter (half an inch) above the second or third node counting from the bottom, because a side shoot with more flowers can grow from such a node. If the spike is yellowing or drying out, cut it off right at the base.
- 6
Repot every 2-3 years into bark
A phalaenopsis is planted not in soil but in a pine bark mix, which lets air reach the roots. Repot every 2-3 years, ideally after flowering, once the bark has broken down or the roots start to rot. While you're at it, use clean scissors to cut away hollow and brown roots.
- 7
Nudge the plant to bloom again
A phalaenopsis sets a new flower spike when it senses a temperature difference between day and night. In autumn, move it for a few weeks to a cooler spot where nights sit around 15-18°C (59-64°F). That difference of a few degrees is the plant's signal that it's time to push out flowers.
How much light an orchid needs
A phalaenopsis only blooms when it has plenty of light, but it can't stand harsh midday sun, which scorches the leaves. The ideal spot is near an east or west window, with bright, indirect light for most of the day. Healthy leaves then have a rich, grassy-green color.
Dark green, limp leaves are a signal there's too little light and the plant may not bloom. Yellowing and reddening leaves, on the other hand, mean too much sun and a risk of burns. If your home lacks bright windows, a grow light will help the orchid.
What to do with an orchid after it finishes blooming
Once the flowers drop, many people hate to throw the plant away - and there's no need, because a phalaenopsis lives and blooms for many years. The most important thing is what you do with the spent spike. Cut a green, firm spike above the second or third node from the bottom, because a side branch with new buds often shoots from such a node.
If the spike starts yellowing, browning, or drying out, there's no point keeping it, so cut it off right at the base of the plant. The orchid will then put its energy into leaves and roots, and in time send up a new spike from the bottom. Right after blooming is also a good moment to repot, if the bark has already broken down.
How to get an orchid to bloom again
The most common reason a phalaenopsis refuses to bloom is the lack of a temperature difference between day and night, plus too little light. In nature, the flower spike forms when the nights turn cooler. You can mimic that by moving the plant in autumn for a few weeks somewhere the nights sit around 15-18°C, for example near a cooler window.
A care review also helps: check that the plant gets enough bright light and isn't overfed with nitrogen, which fuels leaves at the expense of flowers. While the buds are setting, a fertilizer with more phosphorus and potassium helps. Once a flower spike appears, stop turning the pot, because the flowers will position themselves toward the light.
Frequently asked questions
›What should I do with an orchid after it finishes blooming?
Look at the flower spike: if it's green and firm, cut it above the second or third node from the bottom to encourage a side shoot with new flowers. If it's yellowing or drying out, cut it off right at the base. Don't throw the plant away, because a phalaenopsis can bloom for many years.
›Why won't my orchid bloom?
It's usually short on light or on the day-night temperature difference that triggers a flower spike. Move it somewhere brighter, and in autumn give it cooler nights, around 15-18°C, for a few weeks. Also check that it isn't overfed with nitrogen, which fuels leaves at the expense of flowers.
›How often should I fertilize an orchid?
During the growing season, from spring to early autumn, feed every 2-3 waterings with a fertilizer made for orchids. Use half the dose on the label, because a phalaenopsis is easy to overfeed. In winter, when the plant slows down, cut back or stop feeding entirely.
›When and into what should I repot an orchid?
Repot a phalaenopsis every 2-3 years, ideally right after flowering, once the bark has broken down or the roots start climbing out of the pot. Plant it not in soil but in a pine bark mix, which gives the roots access to air. While repotting, remove hollow and rotten roots with a clean tool.
›What temperature is best for an orchid?
A phalaenopsis feels best at 18-25°C (64-77°F) during the day and a few degrees cooler at night. Below 15°C it gets chilled, and above a radiator it dries out fast. Also protect it from cold window drafts in winter.