My moth orchids are starting to look a little sorry for themselves by the time August arrives, which is why I do several things to revive them and set them up for strong blooming next year.
Even though orchid care is highly particular, I’ve learned that less is more for these indoor flowering houseplants. However, warmer temperatures in August require more frequent watering and protection from intense afternoon sunlight. Nevertheless, a bit of pruning (with these houseplant snips from Amazon) and placing your orchid somewhere humid will help support it through the rest of its active growth season.
Here, I talk through what to do with orchids in August, with five tasks that will give yours a late-summer boost.
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1. Remove Faded Stems
(Image credit: Andreas von Einsiedel / Alamy Stock Photo)
It’s common for orchid stems to be turning yellow by the end of July and into August, as they come to the end of their summer display and prepare for their resting period in fall.
Instead of leaving the stems attached, you can prune your orchid to redirect its energy and encourage new stems.
Where you cut your orchid flower spike depends on how it’s looking.
If there is still a green, firm part, you can trim it back to just above a healthy node. This will actually encourage branching and new blooms in late summer or fall – though they’re likely to be smaller than flowers on a brand new stem.
If, however, the entire stem has turned brown, you can cut it at the base of the plant to remove it. This will redirect the plant’s energy into producing a new spike later on (typically late winter into early spring, where dropping room temperatures trigger flowering).
Always use clean, sharp pruning tools for this. I like these houseplant pruning snips from Amazon, as they’re the perfect size for quickly tending to orchids.
2. Keep Your Orchid Hydrated
(Image credit: Future)
Watering orchids is a skill that takes time to master, and it’s often the number one thing that goes wrong and kills off these houseplants. This is because they dislike prolonged drought but are equally susceptible to orchid root rot.
In summer, keep in mind that orchids will dry out much more quickly than in other seasons. This is both because they’re actively growing and the air is warmer.
My trick to always getting orchid watering right is observing the roots. If the chunky aerial roots appear silver, it’s time to water. If green, leave your plant alone.
I use a small houseplant watering can (like this from Walmart) to add just a bit of water at a time. You don’t want to oversaturate the roots and let them sit in a pool of water, but rather ensure they have been soaked all over.
3. Boost Humidity
(Image credit: Andreas von Einsiedel via Alamy)
When it comes to helping houseplants in a heatwave, increasing the humidity for indoor plants is key – especially for tropical plants like orchids.
Heatwaves can significantly dry out the air and orchid bark (which you can find at Walmart), resulting in dehydration, damaged tissue, and an overall decline of the plant.
Orchids love 40-70% humidity, which can be hard to achieve in the home. But placing your orchid in the bathroom to soak up extra moisture from the shower, or using a pebble humidity tray (like this from Amazon) can help.
You can also regularly mist your orchid with this plant mister from Wayfair.
This will also stop orchid leaves from becoming wrinkly.
4. Feed Your Orchid
(Image credit: Future)
Fertilizing your orchid throughout its active growth season is important if you want to encourage glossy foliage and long-lasting blooms.
Even if your orchid has finished flowering in August, applying a specific orchid fertilizer (like this TPS one from Amazon) can support foliage growth and give it a boost of essential plant nutrients to encourage flowering later on.
Aim to feed your orchids every couple of weeks during summer, flushing its roots once a month to remove a build-up of salts. Fertilizing more frequently can burn your orchid’s sensitive roots, resulting in premature fading and even death of the plant.
Alternatively, you can use an organic orchid feed, such as making your own orchid fertilizer with coffee grounds and rice water.
5. Check for Pests
(Image credit: Getty Images/Kristina Strasunske)
Many houseplant pests thrive in dry summer conditions, so it’s important to check for them regularly and act fast before they spread.
For orchids, some of the most common pests include mealybugs, scale insects, spider mites, and aphids.
You should check for symptoms like yellowing leaves, spotting, and fine webbing. Always inspect the underside of the leaves, as this is where pests like to hide.
If you do spot any, isolate your orchid from other plants to stop them spreading. You should then act accordingly to get rid of spider mites, get rid of thrips, and so on.
I find regularly misting my orchid’s leaves helps keep them glossy and clean, which makes them less inviting to pests.
Lots of houseplant owners also like to use neem oil (which you can find as a neem oil plant spray at Amazon) to protect their plants from pests organically.
What to Shop
This orchid fertilizer is a special formula to provide orchids with all the nutrients they need to grow and bloom. Dilute with water to apply.
These Fiskars gardening snips are the perfect size for quickly tending to houseplants. They have non-stick micro-tip blades.
This plant mister has a beautiful amber finish. In between use, it doubles as shelf decor.
Even though orchids are undoubtedly tricky, several orchid myths aren’t true and could be misinforming how you care for yours. Though, it is important to place your orchid correctly to support its growth and overall health.
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