How to Care for Orchids

Watch the full episode: http://ift.tt/2lBxV34 Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook teaches the five basics of caring for orchids. Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the official This Old House YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thisoldhouse Time: 5 minutes/week Cost: $40 Skill Level: Beginner Shopping List: Orchids Fertilizer Steps: • Water – Let orchids dry out before watering. Once they’re dry, place them under a sink and run the water until it starts pouring out of the bottom of the pot. Once it does, count to ten before turning the water off. • Fertilizer – Use fertilizer “weakly weekly,” meaning use only a little bit of fertilizer once a week to keep the plant strong. Only fertilize after watering. • Ventilation – Place orchids in an area where there is ventilation and air can cycle through the plant. • Sunlight – Place orchids near a South/Southeast facing window, but don’t place them directly in sunlight. • Temperature – Drop the temperature in the room the orchids are at night to help them grow stronger. Resources: Orchids and the products required to care for them, including fertilizer and planting media like sphagnum moss, can be purchased from a nursery or home center. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://ift.tt/1psm4fC Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisoldhouse https://twitter.com/asktoh Pinterest: http://ift.tt/1psm4fE G+: http://ift.tt/1CtsNjJ Instagram: http://ift.tt/1psm1QZ Tumblr: http://ift.tt/1CtsLbH