How Do Orchids Get Through Winter? A Full Breakdown of the Latest Care Tips

The orchid is one of China's top ten famous flowers and one of the “Four Gentlemen” among flowers. It is a symbol of modesty and elegance, which shows just how high the orchid's status is among Chinese flowers. China has a history of growing orchids stretching back two thousand years, and even today orchids remain deeply loved by flower enthusiasts. But caring for orchids well through the cold winter is no simple matter, and winter is the key period that determines how orchids grow and bloom. Today Qinnong Web will explain for everyone——how to care for orchids in winter.

Among the key points for winter orchid care, the most important is keeping them warm. When cold snaps arrive, low temperatures are the main cause of poor growth and development in orchids during winter, so temperature protection is especially important. Next, orchids also need related treatments such as fertilizer control and ventilation. Below, Qinnong Web brings you the specific care methods:

1. Keeping Warm

As winter arrives and the weather turns colder, orchids kept outdoors are very easily hit by cold snaps, so they must be moved indoors in good time to a spot with plenty of sunlight for care. For those living in apartment buildings, it is best to place the orchid pots on an enclosed balcony; this ensures the orchids get plenty of sunlight, which is extremely beneficial for bud formation and blooming.

After moving them indoors, the room temperature should be kept between 5 and 15°C, which an ordinary home can manage. But the room temperature should not be too high; too high will cause the flower stems to grow slowly and the buds to develop poorly.

2. Fertilizer Control

During their dormant period in winter, orchids generally do not need fertilizing. Because orchid roots live symbiotically with root fungi, they generally need repotting every other year, and the soil already contains rich nutrients, so repotting is not needed. But for Cymbidium goeringii, growth does continue in winter, so nutrients need to be replenished in time by spraying a small amount of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer on the leaves.

3. Watering

“Do not let them dry out in summer and autumn, do not let them stay wet in winter and spring” - this is the orchid-growing experience summed up by those before us. In winter orchids are mostly in a dormant state and need less water, so the potting soil only needs to be slightly moist.

If the potting soil really is very dry, you can spray-water it around midday on a sunny day with water close to room temperature, keeping the potting soil slightly moist. For watering orchids, rainwater or snow water is best; if you use tap water, let it sit for two days before use.

4. Ventilation

Orchids like a warm, humid environment with good air circulation. In northern homes where a stove is used for heating, the pots should be kept far from the stove; around midday on sunny days, windows should be opened for ventilation, or the pots can be placed outdoors in a sheltered, sunny spot. Orchids kept on an enclosed balcony for care also need good air circulation, so open the windows often. But when the temperature suddenly drops, close the windows immediately so the orchids do not freeze.

5. Disease and Pest Prevention

Winter air is dry, so pests and diseases occur less often. But with indoor care, if the humidity is relatively high, that is not necessarily the case, so spray pesticides promptly to target the problem. During regular care, protective spraying should also be done; spraying the potting soil and the ground around the pot with Bordeaux mixture can reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases the following year.

The above is the relevant knowledge on how orchids get through winter. As a flower with a very distinctive style, the orchid is extremely ornamental, and when it blooms its fragrance spreads everywhere, absolutely making people feel relaxed and joyful. It would truly be a pity for such a beautiful flower to freeze in winter. We hope this article can provide some reference value for all orchid lovers.