I often hear, “I can’t grow orchids.”

First rule is: Never repot a blooming orchid.

Second rule is: Do not cut off roots until you know for sure they are dead and never during a bloom. Many orchids have dark, soft roots that feel spongy. They are not dead.

Three: If you can grow houseplants you can grow orchids. The one thing that kills orchids is too much water. If you buy orchids from big box stores or grocery stores, they have been packed for long travel times and they are packed in wet moss. This will kill the orchid within weeks.

You may lose the blooms by changing the media but that is better than losing the orchid all together, so remove it from the pot, carefully take off the moss and let it dry.

Four: If you ordered orchids from a grower, slip it out of the pot slightly and check the media to see if it is too damp. Don’t water if there is moisture in the media. Orchids like to get close to dry before they need watering again.

If you find the orchid seems too wet, slightly pull it out of the pot and let the air get to it. Let it dry out before watering again. Some roots do not absorb the water as much as others. Each orchid is different, so one may want to be watered every four days and the other may want every seven days. Here in Idaho, they stay moist for about seven days on average. Mine are inside in August due to heat fluctuations.

Five: Always have pots that have drainage holes in the bottom and holes on the sides allows

Always check your media, deep down inside. When you figure out what the individual plant needs and wants, then you have the watering regime.