Espresso Orchid Plant Details
The Espresso Orchid is a small, pocket-sized plant that sets the bar for indoor ornamental foliage.
Native to South East Asia this small, 6-inch plant is very popular and a perfect addition to any small space, a desk at work, a study area, or even just a kitchen counter. Its petite size makes it easy to take care of and low maintenance.
Espresso Orchids prefer indirect sun and regular misting with purified water. They aren’t picky about soil type as long as it drains well, but be careful not to overwater them.
ESPRESSO ORCHID CARE
LIGHT:
ESPRESSO ORCHID thrive in bright, indirect light. You can place them next to a window that faces a north or east direction, or you can put them under fluorescent lights.
In the wintertime, when the days are shorter, the plant may need as much as 12 hours of artificial light every day.
The temperature for espresso orchids is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15-21 degrees Celsius). These plants can tolerate nighttime temperatures as low as 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius), but only for short periods of time.
WATERING:
This orchid is thirsty! It likes to be watered twice a week.
Yes, you heard it right. Unlike its orchid siblings, this plant requires more water to reach its full potential about twice as much water as most other orchids.
Make sure you aren’t over-watering this plant it needs enough water that the soil is damp at all times, but not so much that it’s actually soaking.
A good way to tell if you’re over-watering is to look for black leaves, black leaves are a sign that you’re giving your plant too much water and need to cut back on watering frequency.
TEMPERATURE:
These plants thrive in temperatures that range from 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit (or 15-29 degrees Celsius), with an average of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
They need a 10-degree drop at night to mimic the natural weather patterns of their native habitat.
HUMIDITY & DRYING YOUR ORCHID:
The ideal humidity level for espresso orchid is 50-60% which can be achieved by keeping your orchid in a humid room such as a kitchen or bathroom, near a window, or by using a humidifier.
A simple way to check if your orchid needs more humidity is to observe its roots: if they look brown and shriveled, your plant is probably not getting enough humidity.
If you notice any of these signs, you can try one (or all!) of these tips:
– Misting your orchid with water. We recommend using distilled or rainwater because tap water contains chemicals like chlorine that may damage your plant.
– Adding pebble trays around your plant with water in them. Make sure the plant is not sitting directly in the water so it doesn’t rot!
– Placing a humidifier nearby. We recommend using cool mist humidifiers over warm mist ones as hot vapors could damage delicate orchid petals.
FERTILIZE YOUR ESPRESSO PLANT
The good news is that you don’t need to fertilize your espresso orchid very often.
Once a month should be plenty, and if you’re worried about over-fertilizing it, once every two months could be even better.
Remember, too much fertilizer can harm your plant just as much as not enough. Be sure to use only a small amount of water soluble fertilizer at a time.
RE BLOOMING ESPRESSO ORCHID
Espresso orchids are native to Southeast Asia, and they’re used to growing in rainforests. It’s important to replicate this environment for your plant to bloom multiple times a year.
Your orchid may bloom once a year, or it may bloom again, depending on how the first blooming period goes.
To encourage re-blooming, you’ll want to keep caring for your Espresso Orchid as if it were still in bloom.
After your orchid’s blooms fall off, cut off the stem with a clean pair of scissors just below where it joins the leaves.
Continue to water and fertilize as usual. In a few weeks, you should see a new stem growing at the base of your plant!
If you do see a new stem growing (and it’s not going anywhere), then that means your orchid will likely re-bloom!
This new stem will continue to grow until it reaches about 6 inches (15 cm) long, at which point you should lightly pinch it with clean fingers to encourage branching. This will help with re-blooming.
TIPS FOR KEEPING IT HEALTHY:
- Remove any dead or dying flowers from the plant
- Prune back the flower spike to just before the first healthy leaf node, using a pair of sharp shears.
- Place your espresso orchid in bright but indirect sunlight, such as near a south-facing window covered by sheer curtains.
- Mist your plant with room-temperature water every two days.
- Fertilize your orchid with a balanced houseplant fertilizer during its spring blooming period and every other month during its summer blooming period.
- Repot it in fresh soil every two years. Re-potting helps strengthen the roots of your plant, which will help them get stronger and last longer over time.
- Espresso orchids thrive in humidity, so if your plant’s leaves are wilting and you’ve checked that it was properly watered and fertilized, it may be time to get a humidifier!
Espresso orchid repotting
Repotting the Espresso orchid is a great way to give it a new lease on life and rejuvenate its vigor. It also provides an opportunity to check the condition of your plant’s roots and pot.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- A new flowerpot
- Espresso orchid potting mix
- Water
- Espresso orchid fertilizer (optional)
Here’s what to do:
- Water the plant thoroughly so that it is easier to remove from its old pot without damaging any of the roots.
- Gently remove the plant from its pot, being careful not to damage any of the roots. Shake off as much of its old soil as possible from its roots. If necessary, use your fingers to gently tease out some of the rootball so that all of the roots are exposed.
- Place a small amount of potting mix in the bottom of the new pot and place your plant inside, being sure that it is situated at roughly the same depth as it was before. Fill in around the sides with more soil until the plant is stable in its new home, and water.
Why is my Espresso Orchid dying?
Orchids are known to be extremely sensitive plants, and there are a number of potential culprits when it comes to the dramatic symptoms you’re seeing.
From issues with temperature, humidity, or light, to pests and disease, or even improper watering practices, there are plenty of reasons why your plant might not be thriving as it should.
How do you keep Espresso Orchids blooming?
As a rule, the first thing to keep in mind with any orchid is that it’s a tropical plant.
That means that it’s used to warm temperatures and high humidity. If you’re trying to grow them indoors, be sure that you are watering your orchids on a regular basis—about once a week—and keeping the soil moist until it starts to drain out of the bottom of your pot when you water.
Taking care of your orchid also means fertilizing it regularly. We recommend using an all-in-one fertilizer for orchids, like [product name], which will ensure that your orchid gets balanced nutrition.
If you notice a problem with your orchid, be sure to address it right away; as soon as you notice something wrong, look up what could be causing the issue and follow the instructions on how to fix it.
For example, if you notice pests on your Espresso Orchid, look up what kinds of pests may attack these plants and how to remove the pests from them.
The best way to keep Espresso Orchids blooming is to make sure they are getting enough but indirect sunlight and water and have plenty of space around them for air circulation.
Why is my Espresso Orchid not growing?
First: check if you’re giving your Espresso Orchid enough water. Only some plants need frequent watering, and the Espresso Orchid is one of them. They like a lot of water, but not too much.
And make sure you’re using the right kind of water! Not all plants like the same type of water—the Espresso Orchid needs soft water and does best when you use distilled water.
That’s the easy stuff out of the way? Okay, next: Make sure your Espresso Orchid has enough light, but not too much direct sun.
They are a tropical plant, so they prefer indirect light, but they also need a lot of light in general, so don’t be afraid to keep them in a well-lit area.
And finally: make sure it isn’t getting too cold! The Espresso Orchid is used to warm temperatures so make sure it’s staying above 60 degrees Fahrenheit!
Those are the top three reasons
Why is my Espresso Orchid roots turning yellow?
If you’re seeing yellow roots, that’s a sign that your plant is low on moisture.
Remember that your Espresso Orchid needs to be watered at least once a week, with enough water to fully soak the roots.
Why do Espresso Orchids droop?
The most common reason why orchids droop is too much sunlight. Orchids are tropical plants, and they thrive in the shade.
What are the symptoms of over watering for your Espresso Orchid?
When you over-water an Espresso Orchid, the first symptom you’re likely to notice is a black spot on the crown.
This is often a bacterial infection that targets plants with too much moisture in their soil. Be careful, as it can lead to root rot and cause your plant to die.
If you see any signs of this bacteria, remove the plant from its current pot and let it dry out for at least 24 hours. You’ll need to repot it with fresh, dry soil and use a liquid fertilizer to help it recover from the trauma of being overwatered.
How much light does an espresso orchid need?
Espresso orchids need medium light.
This means they’ll do best with bright, indirect light—like what they’d get if they were placed near a window that gets a few hours of direct sunlight per day.
You should avoid placing your espresso orchid in an area where it’s going to receive lots of direct sun, like in front of a south-facing window, because otherwise it can become sunburned.
If you put your espresso orchid too far away from any source of light, it won’t be able to photosynthesize and will likely die.
Conclusion:
Hopefully, the tips and tricks in this guide will help you grow your beautiful orchid. It is important to provide your orchid with the perfect growing environment.
Give it plenty of sunlight and water while never allowing the plant to completely dry out. Proper care will ensure the plant’s long-term well being.
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