Growing Orchids in the Home

A physician and business owner based in Franksville, Wisconsin, Dr. Steven Armus oversees a dermatology practice in addition to operating Native Prairie Restoration, a company that helps residential and commercial clients restore ponds and prairies to their native state. In his free time, Dr. Steven Armus applies his love of the natural world to pursuits such as gardening and orchid growing. 

Admired for their exotic beauty and abundant varieties, orchids are the world’s largest family of flowering plants. According to the American Orchid Society, at least 20,000 orchid species and approximately 100,000 orchid hybrids exist. In nature, the flowers can be found throughout the world, but they are especially abundant in the tropics. 

Although they have a reputation for being difficult to grow, many orchid varieties are adaptable and relatively easy to cultivate in the home. Unlike other houseplants, however, the majority of orchids do not live in soil, so finding the right growing medium is essential. The specific growing medium should be based on the orchid type, but in general, they can do well in pots filled with moss, stones, lava rocks, or bark. 

Along with finding the right growing material, cultivating orchids that thrive and flower requires the correct balance of light, temperature, and moisture. They typically do best in bright and humid areas with mild average temperatures of between 55 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Orchids also require regular watering, but growers should allow their growing medium to dry out somewhat in between waterings.