Hi Jen -- that's funny because I have three orchids and that is exactly how I water them -- I fill the pot that they are sitting in with about two inches of water, let them sit in the water for about 30 minutes, then dump the water out. For some reason I thought that was how they should be watered, rather than from the top. Will have to look into that! Mine get a good amount of sun each day and flower fairly consistently maybe every three months? After they are done blooming I cut them back just above the next node with a very sharp knife. I do keep meaning to get some orchid food to encourage even more blooming. I guess she means don't let it sit in water for prolonged periods, but I just looked it up and it is suggested to run water through the soil and let it drain.

I don't know how, but orchids have gone from something that seemed to require quite a lot of skill to supermarket flowers in a generation.

MY DH does quite well with them in our dining room. He just waters them lightly when they are dry, every few days (will depend on your microclimate) and they are in pots with good drainage. The flower and flower! Keep them well staked.

Yes, I believe the woman I spoke with did mean not to let the plant just sit in water. She said to take it to the sink, water the soil, put the pot back into its dish and let it sit for a few minutes, then tip the dish over and pour out the excess water. I noticed mine has a couple of slightly yellow leaves today, and wondered if that could've been from the "shock" of being transported to a new location (and I left it in the car for about an hour while I did some grocery shopping on the way home), but looks like it's probably just a part of the life cycle. At the nursery where I bought mine, the woman showed me a large potted orchid that she said had been blooming with regularity for several years. I had no idea they could last (and be so pretty) for so long!

I looked with longing at the display at the nursery for quite some time before asking how difficult the orchids are to care for. I was very surprised by the answer, indicating they are super-easy to grow. I had also been under the impression that they were very finicky plants, requiring lots and lots of TLC. Do you supposed they have been somehow propagated for hardiness?

Yes I have grown several orchids for many years...one I have going now has been blooming for months and months. Yours looks to be a dendrobium which I find a little tougher to have rebloom than the moth orchids (phalaenopsis). For whatever reason, my dendrobiums suffer bud drop...the blossoms grow and get large and just before they open, they dry up and fall off. They say it's usually "shock" of some sort, but I purposely don't move them or change anything else while they're in bud. Beats me. I don't have that issue with the phalaenosis.

IAC, I keep my orchids in a pot inside a pot...the inner pot can't reach the bottom of the outer pot so they don't get "wet feet". I water my orchids once a week by taking them to the sink and flooding the pot with water. I let them drain and put them back in the outer pot. Once a month, I use a mild liquid fertilizer on them.

I'm no help. I love orchids, but have to treat them as cut flowers (meaning when they die, out they go and I get a new one). I have great luck keeping them alive and blooming for 6 or 8 weeks, then they croak. Or all the blossoms fall off and I don't want to look at them for months until they send up a new shoot. '

If you have a Trader Joe's near you, they have a great selection, very reasonably priced. I buy one for my master bath, whenever the old one dies - they are always under $15.

Annie, mine has three little buds that have yet to open, and I'm fearing they will "drop" as you say! I'm going to be very careful not to disturb it except to gently move it for watering.

A pot inside a pot is a great idea! I also need to buy some fertilizer.

Oly, I can kill even cactus (and have managed to on more than one occasion), so I'm really hoping my sweet orchid will thrive - but I'm not placing any bets. I love the way it looks in front of the glass block window so much that it occurred to me that if it doesn't last, I might even see about investing in an excellent fake. (hanging head in shame for even THINKING such a thing ;-))

I have a bunch of phals that I neglect and yet they bloom nicely. They stay outside on the shade patio all summer. I have yet to bring them in but I will soon.

Water is the enemy to orchids.....the last one I purchased stayed in flower mode for 4 months. It came with the following watering instructions...

"once a week place 3 ice cubes on top of roots".

After flowering, I moved it outside to the lanai. It still gets 3 ice cubes a week. Lots of new growth, hope it blooms again. If it does, it will be the first time I will have had success with keeping an orchid going.

I have 4 by the bath tub. I have a window the same size as yours, but glass, on an eastern exposure. I use the water left in my glass to water them, a couple of times a week. Get the orchid fertilizer (I see it at Kroger, but I think mine came from Lowe's), and give them that, half strength, once a month.

if the foliage gets DARKER, they are not getting enough light. They should be lighter green.

3 ice cubes per week. I usually do it on Sunday night. I also just throw them away when the blooms fade. I always buy with as many unflowered buds as possible and they often last 4 months.

I also buy orchids at Trader Joes, or IKEA. Inexpensive at both places. They usually last 4+ months, and when the last flower falls off, I throw it away. I don't like pots of dead sticks waiting for reblooming months later. I, too, use 3 ice cubes per week, and occasionally a little fertilizer. Don't pick spent blooms, but let them fall off. That's about all there is to it!

I have many many orchids so yes I grow them and have taught others how to keep theirs alive. Most orchids come in and clear plastic liner pot inside the decorative pot. It's not visible because of the moss and bark topping. So that creates the pot in a pot situation which is best for orchids. It is essential to keep the roots and air roots looking healthy and plump. If they are looking dried up or brown they aren't getting enough water. The best method for watering is to put the pot in the sink, set the water to neutral, not hot not cold, let it run into the pot fully soaking it, turn off and let it set for about 10 minutes, turn over and dump out all the water that might still be in the pot. At the same time wipe down all the leaves with a damp cloth. You don't ever want to leave water in the well in the center of the plant. I gauge when I water by the way the external roots look, but generally a week to sometimes 2. I don't add fertilizer while in bloom. The pros I have talked to have a saying for fertilizer, weekly weakly. Meaning do it weekly but very weak solution and not when in bloom.

The little bud on the end is called a mitten because it looks like one. Never cut off the bloom stalk if it is green, if it's turned brown and dried up cut it about an inch tall.

They don't like drafty areas and changes in temperature. They do love humidity and moisture around them. I recommend placing the pot, which must have drain holes, on a saucer of small rocks and keep the saucer filled with water. This keeps a moist environment but doesn't allow the roots to be in water. A fine misting is good to. They do absorb water through the leaves so I always wipe them down with a wet cloth or paper towel.

There's some very good you tube videos.

Yes, if I recall correctly, the woman at the nursery told me to only fertilize when the plant is not in bloom.

Thank you all so much for the excellent, helpful advice! I hope "my little baby" thrives in "her" new home. :-)

It really hurts to hear of all the healthy orchids being just thrown away. A gal on the Kitchen table forum rescued one such discarded orchid from free cycle and I helped her learn how to take care of it and that beautiful orchid has been in continuous bloom for about a year now. She posts pictures of it often, she is very proud of that beauty. With just a little attention and knowledge they will reward you over and over for years. I too have some in continuous bloom. I admire mine daily.

Gorgeous, ravencajun! Wow, those amazing blooms.

Thanks, that particular orchid plant is over 5 years old and has been blooming and reblooming repeatedly.

They are plants, btw, don't feel guilty for throwing them out and buying new ones. The growers thank you.

Wow that is beautiful, ravencajun. Which fertilizer do you use?

I love love love orchids, we have a wonderful world wide attendee orchid show, orchid houses left and right and I have spent $$$ trying to grow them. I give. I buy a new one and love it until it is done with its bloom and then I keep trying keep them going but only halfheartedly now. I did get one to rebloom once by letting it live behind my coffee maker. Maybe once life slows down I will do better

Here's one of mine....

Orchids are my favorite flowers.

I wish I could take credit for these, but I can't. Every year the NY Botanical Garden puts on an orchid show.

I live near a place that is a nationwide orchid distributor/nursery. I've tried with orchids, I've failed with orchids. But I'm not known to have a green thumb.

My mom has had luck with some, not others.

Is there a certain type that is easier to grow?