All about house plants

After our hard freezes, the central Texas garden is in winter mode. So let us discuss a popular indoor plant: Phalaenopsis orchids.

These orchids are readily available in the floral department of grocery stores. Some are small enough to sit on the window sill and the flowers last for months.

If you purchase one in bloom, you should keep it near a window and water it twice a week. Water must never sit in the leaves or on the roots. The water should drain straight out of the pot. I take mine to the kitchen sink and let the water run through the medium into the sink. If you have softened tap water, do not use the tap water on your orchids. The salt that is used to soften the water will kill your orchids.

The best water is rainwater, which you can collect from your roof. I have rain barrels near the downspouts to collect rainwater for my orchids. Unsoftened tap water is okay to use. Some people like to use an ice cube to water slowly. I have heard “experts” discourage this method, but I have not had trouble when I occasionally put an ice cube on the bark around my orchids — as long as the water can drain through and not sit on the roots.

People ask me about the roots that grow out of the pot. These roots are okay as that is the natural way that these orchids grow in the wild.

What about that orchid you bought last year that looks good but has not re-bloomed? Phalaenopsis orchids need some cold (but not freezing) temperatures to initiate a spike. When the night temperature gets down below 70 degrees F, but not below 40, you can put it outside. Perhaps you have a garage with a window that stays within this temperature range. Once the plant forms a spike, it will be months before you have blooms, but it is always rewarding to see those flowers.