Growing orchids is not easy for everyone. Especially in winter, when the conditions in heated apartments are extremely difficult for these plants. How to take care of them during this stressful time? What should you feed them so that they continue to bloom despite adverse circumstances? We will advise you what home fertilizer to use in winter to help orchids form new buds one by one.

How to care for orchids in winter?

The fashion for orchids does not fade away. They are beautiful potted flowerswith which we have been happily decorating our windowsills for years, although growing them is a real challenge for many. Not everyone knows how to meet the requirements of orchids and make them bloom. Especially in winter, when it is difficult to create optimal conditions for them at home. Short days, and therefore little natural light, affect the condition of all indoor plants – not only orchids. They are also negatively affected by dry air in heated apartments and temperature fluctuations caused by cold drafts.

Orchids need our support to survive this difficult and stressful period for them. You can help them by tailoring the treatment to their needs. How to care for orchids in winter?

  • Watering – in winter, water orchids less often than in spring or summer. Water them only when the soil in the pot dries out and the roots of the plants turn from green to silver-white.
  • Air humidity – in autumn and winter, the air in the house is dry due to heating. This is not good for orchids, which like to grow in a humid environment. If you want to improve the conditions for their growth, place the pot on a shallow tray filled with pebbles and water. You can also place an air humidifier next to the plant and turn it on for several hours a day.
  • Location – it is worth considering where the orchid will stand during the winter when the days are short and sunny. This time of year it is it is best to place the plant on an east or south window behind a curtain.
  • Temperature – when growing orchids in winter, be aware of large temperature fluctuations. Avoid overheating the room (setting the radiators to the maximum), which will quickly dry out the air and the plants will lose their flowers. Also be aware of cold drafts caused by tilting windows.
  • Fertilization – in winter, do not fertilize these plants more often than every 6-8 weeks (only those species that do not go into vegetative rest, e.g. popular phalaenopsis and cymbidiums). It is recommended to use diluted orchid fertilizers or gentle, homemade nutrients. Orchids with a significant period of winter dormancy should not be fertilized at all.

Nutritive fertilizer for blooming orchids

In winter, it is worth turning to natural ways of supporting orchids in order to encourage their healthy growth and abundant flowering. At this time of year, home-made nutrients that are not highly concentrated and difficult to fertilize will work best. One of such fertilizers is water after cooking rice. We usually pour it down the sink without realizing how it is rich in valuable nutrients. If you use it to water orchids, it will give the plants energy, help create a strong root system and stimulate the formation of buds. It’s an easy way to keep your orchid in bloom all the time – not just in winter.

How do you use rice water for orchids? You can only use one to which you have not added salt. Cook the rice and drain, collecting the water in a bowl. Allow the liquid to cool completely. After that dilute the water after cooking the rice in a ratio of 1:1 and use about 100 ml to water the orchid. Use soft water (boiled and cooled or filtered) for dilution. This nutrient fertilizer for orchid flowering is applied once every two months.

Is your orchid withering before your eyes? Maybe you are making this mistake