26-05-2025
Experts reveal the huge gardening mistake that is stopping your orchids from flowering
Many British gardeners enjoy keeping orchids in their homes thanks to their pleasant scent and ability to flourish in the UK's cooler climate.
However, according to gardening experts, there is a mistake many people make which means the plants may never flower.
Luckily, this mistake is very easy to rectify, and so frustrated orchid owners can finally enjoy their plant in bloom.
It's all to do with how they are watered: when it comes to orchids, they take moisture from mist in the surrounding air - as opposed to taking it from water-soaked soil.
As a result of this, it's easy to over water them, which is a common mistake made by orchid owners, according to the experts at DIY Everywhere.
'Orchids are epiphytes, meaning they naturally grow on trees and have adapted to receive moisture from the air rather than from soil,' they said.
This means that soil which has a high water count can affect the plants.
'Overwatering can lead to root rot, which prevents the plant from absorbing the nutrients it needs to flower,' the experts explained.
Being unable to absorb all the necessary nutrients means orchids are likely to suffer.
And being nutrient starved can result in leaves turning yellow, developing black tips, and even falling off in the worst cases.
But the experts at DIY Everywhere have suggested an easy way that plant fans can prevent this from happening.
They suggest that after watering, people make sure that soil has thoroughly dried out before watering again.
Alternatively, rather than pouring water into the soil, people can mist the plants with water.
This is simple to do, by simply using a spray bottle filled with water.
Another step keen gardeners can take is opting for the right kind of water for their orchids - the sensitive plants tend to fare better when water with an alkaline pH of between 5.5 to 6.5 is used.
To achieve that, boiled or rainwater should be used, rather than water straight from the tap, which can contain too many minerals that are damaging to orchids. These include fluoride and chlorine.
According to gardening expert Monty Don, there are a number of other things to bear in mind when trying to cultivate the plants. He has previously said: 'Orchids have something of a reputation for being demanding and even downright tricky, but in fact some are very easy indeed, and most are not too difficult if you get the basics right.'
Ideally, the plants should be kept at 15-20°C at night and 20-30°C during the day, he said. They do not fare well if they are too cold, or too hot.
He added: 'Orchids need light to trigger flowering, but they can scorch, so never put them on a south-facing windowsill – a west- or east-facing one is ideal, or set back in a bright room. Each flower spike can bear over a dozen flowers and will last for months.
'But once it is spent – and has not produced new flowers for a week or two – cut back the spike to the first node. This will stimulate a fresh side shoot, which will develop flowers.'
When the roots spill out, it's time to repot them, he added. Gardeners should gently untangle the roots, before cutting off any shrivelled or damaged sections and shortening the healthy white roots to about 12cm.
Should the plant fit in the same pot, it should be returned to it: if it doesn't fit, it should be moved to a slightly larger container.
'Use proper orchid potting compost, which contains very coarse bark chippings,' he added. 'Hold the plant in position and fit the bark chippings around the roots so that the plant is really firm.'
When it comes to watering plants, he advised: 'The best way to water orchids is to soak them once a week, ideally with rainwater, then let them drain completely. Don't worry if they seem totally dry in between. However, as with many tropical houseplants, a daily misting is always beneficial.'
