The key to growing a healthy orchid is in understanding its origins.
Orchids can be found in a wide range of countries and climates ranging from coastal areas to tropical regions but the majority of these conditions have several key factors in common. They often have a warm climate with a small annual temperature variation, high humidity and regular rainfall followed by brief periods of drought. These are all requirements that are relatively easy to recreate in the home or greenhouse.
Coupled with the fact that orchids are extremely beautiful plants has caused their popularity as house plants to rise a lot in recent times.
This can be seen by the literally thousands of hybrid species available, cultivating orchids has become big business in some countries.
Temperature Range
If you're lucky enough to live in a warmer climate (which unfortunately I am not) then you may find that you can grow your orchids outdoors during summer, maybe even the whole year round!
However, for those of us living in more moderate climates it's a good bet you'll have to grow them indoors, either in your house or a greenhouse. There are orchids that will thrive in cooler temperatures but most will prefer a daytime temperature of around 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 27 degrees Celsius.
Remember to allow a drop in night time temperature of around ten degrees as this is what your orchid will expect.
Lighting Needs
Orchids enjoy long periods of sunlight and you can simulate this best in summer by placing yours near an eastern facing window.
Be sure not to allow too much direct sunlight to reach the plant though as even a little can cause harm to your plants by burning the leaves. Tropical orchids would normally be provided shade by the tree canopy or other natural conditions but you can use frosted glass or even a netted curtain to achieve this.
Alternatively, you can invest in specialist lighting for your orchids giving them just the right spectrum of light for them to thrive whilst avoiding the harmful ones in the red end of the spectrum. This will also give you a lot more control over the length of daylight your orchid gets.
Humidity
Tropical regions and coastal regions are obviously fairly high in humidity which is fairly easy to recreate in a greenhouse but is also achievable indoors too. You can buy or make artificial humidity trays for this. Any type of wide based tray will do to start with.
Place some kind of grating inside or fill it with stones to give your orchids something to stand on. It's important that their roots stay clear of the water as this will damage them. Simply keep the tray filled almost to the top with warmish water and as the water evaporates it will increase the humidity in the air around your orchids.
Potting Your Orchids
If you choose to grow your orchid in a pot you should pot it tightly in a potting media that isn't soil or compost. These mediums retain too much moisture for your orchid to handle well, remember how I said they like periods of rainfall followed by very dry periods. Their roots are specially designed to absorb water quickly and then release it to the plant slowly during dry periods. So instead using a potting media like bark or coconut husk, this will allow very good drainage while retaining a tiny amount of moisture.
A good pot will hold the potting media while allowing water to drain quickly and letting air circulate around your orchids roots. Your orchids roots are often a good indicator of how well your orchid is doing and can let you know in advance if there's a problem. Clear plastic containers can give you a good view of the roots while still keeping the potting media tightly compacted.
Feeding Your Orchids - Fertilizer
Just like most ordinary plants your orchids will need feeding every so often, look for specialized orchid fertilizer rather than ordinary plant food. Standard plant fertilizers usually don't contain the correct level of nutrients and trace minerals that your orchid will need to thrive.
With a little time and care you'll be able to get the maximum amount of enjoyment from your orchid with the minimum amount of fuss.
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