Taking care of orchids can be a wonderful experience for both the beginner and the seasoned enthusiast. Taking care of orchids in your home requires just a little bit of knowledge.  With the addition of a little equipment and the right location caring for orchids in your home will be a rewarding past-time. 

Light
The majority of orchids prefer filtered sunlight, usually with a southern exposure.  A sunny southern window with a sheer curtain may be ideal.  The leaves must be protected from the hars, midday sun which can result in burning the leaves.  Yet a light colored or sheer curtain still allows ample light to reach the green folliage. Too much light can burn or dry out your leaves, resulting in yellow or brown folliage.  If your orchid is getting too little light, the leaves may become very dark green.

If the leaves of your orchid feel much warmer than the surrounding air, they are probably getting too much direct sun.  Experiment with different locations in your home, it’s better to ease the orchid into a sunny location than to risk burning it by placing it in direct sun too quickly.

What type light does your orchid prefer?
Orchids can be divided into high light and low light species.

Low light orchids include Oncindium, Phalaenopsis and lady slippers.  Moderate to high light orchids include Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Vanda.

You’ll need to find two ideal locations in your home if you have both low and moderate or high light orchids in your home.  It is generally best to start with a single plant, or at least a single species and convince yourself that you can keep it alive (don’t worry, it’s not hard!)  Sometimes your plants can be arranged in a single location that takes advantage of varying amounts of light throughout the day. 

Taking care of orchids a much easier task than most people think, and finding just the right light for your new plant can be an enjoyable process.

Interested in buying orchids in bloom?  Visit the Aloha Orchid Nursery for beautiful vivid flowers, and collector plants.  If you are interested in an easy to understand, step-by-step guide to orchid care, visit the Orchid Expert, by Nigel Howell.