Orchid Care
Orchids are not difficult. They are misunderstood. Most of the ones sold as houseplants are epiphytes — in the wild they grow clinging to tree bark, never in soil. Pot one in ordinary potting mix and the roots suffocate.
The short answer
1. Never use potting soil. Epiphyte roots need air moving around them. Bark is the substrate, not a decoration.
2. Water thoroughly, then let it dry. Technique beats schedule. Soak until it runs out the bottom, then wait for barely damp.
3. Roots outside the pot are normal. Repot when the bark breaks down, not when the plant looks crowded.
Read the roots
An orchid tells you what it needs through root colour. Learn these three states and you can stop guessing at a watering schedule entirely.
- Silvery grey — thirsty. The velamen layer has dried out. Water now. This is the state you want to see just before you water, not for days on end.
- Bright green — hydrated and healthy. Leave it alone. Green roots right after watering are exactly what a thriving orchid looks like.
- Brown and soft — rot. The mix has stayed wet too long. Trim the dead roots back to firm tissue and repot into fresh bark immediately.
When to repot, and when not to
Roughly once a year, but the calendar is not the trigger. The bark is.
| Repot now | Leave it alone |
|---|---|
| Bark feels mushy or crumbles between your fingers | Aerial roots climbing out over the rim |
| The pot stays wet for more than a few days | The plant is in bloom — wait until the spike is spent |
| Roots are brown, hollow or soft to the touch | You just brought it home and nothing is wrong |
| A white salt crust has built up on the surface | It has been less than a year and the bark is still firm |
Recommended — Molly’s Orchid Mix: orchid bark, pumice, hyuga and biochar in the ratio epiphyte roots actually want. Screened, soil-free, and free of fertiliser.
Read next
Fundamentals
- Do orchids need soil? — why most orchids die in regular potting soil, and what to use instead. Read this first.
- Best potting mix for orchids — bark mixes, sphagnum and LECA compared. What to look for and what to avoid.
- Light, water, soil and food — the complete care framework for indoor orchids, all four pillars in one place.
Tutorials & identification
- How to repot an orchid — when to do it, what to do with old roots, and how to seat the plant.
- Why bark beats soil — the biology behind epiphytic roots, and why air circulation matters more than nutrients.
- 15 types of orchid worth knowing — Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, Cattleya and beyond, with care notes for each.
Common questions
Can I use regular potting soil for orchids?
For most orchids, no. Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Dendrobium and the other common indoor genera evolved as epiphytes — their roots need air circulation and a proper dry-down between waterings. Potting soil holds too much water and starves them of oxygen. Use a bark-based orchid mix.
How often should I water my orchid?
For Phalaenopsis in bark, every 7–14 days is typical, but the technique matters more than the interval. Water thoroughly until it runs out the bottom, then let the bark dry to barely damp before watering again. The roots tell you more than the calendar does.
When is it time to repot an orchid?
About once a year, and specifically when the bark has broken down — it will feel mushy and stay wet too long. Do not repot simply because roots are growing out of the pot. That is normal, healthy epiphyte behaviour.
Ready to repot?
Bark, pumice and biochar blended in the ratio orchids actually need — not soil with a handful of chips stirred in.
Shop Molly’s Orchid Mix → · Soil finder quiz
More care guides
Soil & substrate basics · Succulent & cactus care · Propagation · Flowers & container gardening
