Graham Smith MCIHort, a gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, warned beautiful orchids will drop their buds if they’re positioned too close to popular foods.
Mr Smith elaborated: “If your orchid is in the kitchen, ensure that it is not too close to any fruit or vegetables, as the ethylene emitted by these can make the orchid drop all of its buds.”
To help orchids thrive over winter, they still need watering, but Mr Smith revealed a nifty tip.
“During winter, you should continue to water your orchid around once a week. You can check if the orchid needs water by looking at the roots.
“If the roots are grey then the orchid needs more water; green roots indicate that the orchid currently has enough water.”
While there is less daylight hours during winter, the orchid will need to be placed somewhere in the home where indirect sunlight peeps through the windows.
“You should place your orchid close to a window to ensure that it is getting enough light in the shorter days,” said Mr Smith.
But be aware of any draughty windows, which the orchid will not like – the best room temperature for an orchid is between 15C and 25C.
“To ensure that your orchid produces blooms, there are several things that you can do, said Mr Smith.
“After all of the flowers have dropped off, the flower spike of the plant will be left behind,” he began.
“This should not be cut down to the base. Instead, cut the stem to just below a visible node to stimulate the production of more flowering stems.”
Mr Smith added: “Orchids like high humidity, so you can stand the plant on a tray of moist pebbles and the roots will absorb moisture from the atmosphere.”
As for blooming season, the orchid is likely to “set its own blooming cycle” based on your home environment.
