Orchid Care FAQs – Orchidoholics Edition (Kenya)

• Poor drainage
• Moss-heavy or compact media
• Fine bark
• Plastic pots
• Low airflow
• Low light
• Cool temperatures (common in Nairobi during July–August)

• Excellent drainage
• Coarse or chunky bark
• Clay pots
• Hanging baskets
• Mounted orchids
• Bright light
• High airflow
• Hot weather and dry seasons

For Phalaenopsis, Oncidiums, and Cattleyas:

• Water approximately once a week
• Always allow water to drain completely
• Never water if the medium is still damp
• Mounted orchids may need watering every 2–3 days in hot conditions

Seasonal adjustments matter:

• • Hot, dry months → water more frequently
  • Cool, damp months → water less
  • Some orchids require a winter rest, even in Kenya

Orchid are Plants not Cocktails.

We do not recommend ice cubes. Orchid roots are sensitive to cold and can be damaged by temperature shock. Always use room-temperature or lukewarm water.

Quick Tip 🌿: It’s safer to underwater than to overwater.

When in doubt, ask us. We love questions.

Very few need greenhouses however we can teach you how to grow them to fit their climatic needs.

Kenya’s climate offers flexibility, but most orchids prefer:

• Bright, filtered light indoors
• Greenhouses

Sheltered outdoor areas protected from:

• Direct sun
• Heavy rain
• Cold nights
• Strong winds

Orchids That Can Grow Outdoors in Kenya

With proper protection, these orchids may thrive outdoors:

• Cymbidiums
• Dendrobium kingianum
• Selected Cattleyas
• Stanhopeas

High-altitude areas may experience cold nights or occasional frost, which can damage orchids.

Quick Tip 🌿Orchids dislike frequent relocation, choose a good spot and keep them there.

This is known as bud blast, and it’s common hearbreaking but can be preventable.

Common Causes of Bud Blast

• Inconsistent watering
• Insufficient light
• Sudden temperature changes
• Moving the plant while buds are forming
• Pest infestations
• Buds trapped inside sheaths

Once buds yellow or shrivel, they cannot recover.

What You Can Do

• Maintain stable conditions
• Avoid moving the plant during budding
• Increase light gradually if needed
• Inspect regularly for pests
• Check roots if overwatering is suspected

Quick Tip 🌿 Stability is key, orchids thrive when conditions stay consistent.

Yes. Always. No exceptions.

Wipe the cutting tool with a clean tissue completely and spray with with the hydrogen peroxide, market hydogen peroxide is highly concentrated so we generally mix one part with hydrogen peroxide and one part water. Ensure to keep it in a opaque bottle and away from sunlight. Orchid diseases spread rapidly through contaminated tools.

How to Sterilize Tools Properly

• Wash with soap and hot water
• Pass blades over an open flame for a few seconds
• Allow to cool before use
• Sterilize between every plant

If a plant shows signs of disease, isolating or removing it can protect the rest of your collection.

Quick Tip 🌿 Clean tools save collections.

Pests are a normal part of orchid care in Kenya.

Common Orchid Pests in Kenya

Aphids

• Small, soft-bodied insects
• Green, yellow, or black
• Attracted to new growth and buds
• Often associated with ants

Mealybugs

• White, cotton-like clusters
• Hide in leaf joints and undersides
• Spread quickly

Scale Insects

• Hard brown or black bumps on leaves
• Do not move once attached
• Juveniles spread easily

Spider Mites

• Extremely small
• Fine webbing under leaves
• Thrive in hot, dry conditions

How to Remove Orchid Pests

• Remove manually using fingers or cotton buds
• Use diluted rubbing alcohol with a drop of dish soap
• Spray thoroughly, including leaf undersides and media
• Physically remove scale before treatment

We recommend and stock:

• Home made remedies like; solutions made with soap (Insecticidal), water, Cinnamon (Antifungal) and Cayenne Pepper (Repellent).
• Turmeric.
• Biological insecticides and fungicides.
• Appropriate chemical systemic solutions
• Protective gloves, sprayers and accessories to do this safely

How to Apply

Orchids are more sensitive than your average houseplant, so you’ll want to be careful with the application:

• Use the Right Soap: Avoid harsh dish detergents with degreasers or “ultra” formulas. Use a mild liquid soap to avoid chemical burns on the leaves.
• Strain the Mix: If you are using ground cinnamon and pepper, the particles will clog your spray bottle. It’s better to “steep” them in hot water like a tea, let it cool, and then strain it through a coffee filter before adding the soap.
• Avoid the Flowers: Never spray this mixture (or any treatment) directly on the orchid blooms. It can cause spotting or premature wilting.
• Test a Leaf: Apply a small amount to one leaf and wait 24 hours. If the leaf turns yellow or black, the solution is too strong.

Cinnamon Warning: While cinnamon is great for the leaves and stems, try to keep it away from the roots. It is a drying agent and can actually stunt root growth if used too heavily in the potting medium.

Quick Tip 🌿 Always test treatments on a small area and avoid spraying in direct sun.

Flowering ends naturally, this does not mean your orchid is unhealthy or dead.

General Care After Flowering

• Sterilize cutting tools
• Cut flower spikes once blooms fade (for most orchids)

Phalaenopsis Flower Spikes

Phalaenopsis orchids can reflower from green spikes, but:

• Secondary blooms are usually smaller
• Flower count is reduced
• The plant eventually needs rest

At Orchidoholics, we recommend cutting the spike to allow the plant to rebuild strength.

Sequential Blooming Orchids

Some orchids bloom repeatedly from the same spike:

• Certain Paphiopedilums
• Psychopsis
• Encyclia cochleata

Allow spikes to bloom until they yellow naturally.

Quick Tip 🌿 Healthy leaves and roots matter more than saving old spikes.

Honestly? Potentially for generations.

Orchids are not short-term flings. They’re more like the Aldabra tortoise of the plant world 🐢 slow growers, long lives, and quietly impressive over time. With good care, orchids can live for decades, and many are passed down from grandparents to grandchildren as living heirlooms.

That said… let’s be honest 😅

Not all orchids are saints. Some orchids are what I lovingly call self-sabotaging warriors. They put on one huge, dramatic, absolutely glorious flowering… and then say:

“Thank you, I have fulfilled my purpose,” and promptly bow out.

That’s just their nature. A big hurrah, a mic drop, curtain closed 🎤🌸 Nothing you did wrong. That’s simply how some species are built. But the majority of orchids? They are in it for the long haul.

• They don’t die after flowering.
• They rest. They recharge. They gather strength.
• Then they bloom again when ready.

Most orchids only meet an early end if they are:

• attacked repeatedly by pests or diseases 🐜
• kept constantly wet or constantly bone dry
• or heartbreakingly… thrown in the rubbish bin just because the flowers fell off 💔

(That one hurts orchid people the most.)

How to help your orchid live a long, legendary life:

•  🌿 Bright, filtered light
• 💧 Water when needed, not by the calendar
• 🌬️ Good airflow
• 🐛 Early pest control
• 🪴 Repot every couple of years
• 🍃 Light, regular feeding

Do that, and your orchid won’t just survive. It will grow larger, stronger, and more spectacular with time. 

One day, someone might look at it and ask:

“Wow… how old is that orchid?”

And you’ll get to say:

“This plant has history.”

Because orchids aren’t just plants. They’re living legacies. Care for them well, and one day your grandchildren or even great-grandchildren could be passing them on, saying:

“This orchid belonged to my grandmother.”

Now that’s a bloom with a backstory 🌸✨

Orchids are not difficult, they’re simply misunderstood.

Observe your plant. Learn your environment. Ask questions.

Kenya’s climate is a gift when you know how to work with it.

If you’re unsure about anything, send us a photo or reach out. We’re always happy to help you grow beautiful, healthy orchids