I bought an orchid recently that did fine in my home until a week ago when the lower leaves started to turn yellow. What can I do to prevent the decline?
Find your orchid a bright spot in the home, but avoid all but the early morning sun. Then make sure the orchid has adequate moisture. Thoroughly moisten the growing medium once or twice a week. Often, you can lift the pot to feel when the medium is becoming too dry. If the home is dry, use a misting bottle occasionally to dampen the stems and roots between waterings. An orchid in the home needs little fertilizer. Use a 20-20-20 or similar product at one-half the label rate to feed the plant every, other month during the warmer weather. Where possible, give the plant a break outdoors under a tree when it stops flowering. It will be much happier in the filtered light where it can receive frequent waterings and feedings. When blooms again are noted, move the plant indoors so you can enjoy the display.
