A PSA to the Other Futzers and Putzers Out There

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I’m notorious for killing succulents because I pay too much attention to them. I struggle with plants that thrive on neglect, because I love putzing around the house with a watering can and scissors, dousing and trimming and otherwise doting on my plant friends. But plants can be like aloof cats: sometimes, the more attention you pay them, the less they like you. 

Thankfully, orchids aren’t succulents and don’t want to be left alone for weeks on end. But at the same time, I’ve found that orchids appreciate a laid back approach, rather than the fawning one might presume such a beautiful plant needs. When one of my orchids blooms, it’s almost always when I’m not expecting it and when I’m not looking. Over time, I’ve learned that that means my orchids are better off when I chill out a little bit.

This is the energy I want to channel around my plants. (Photo by Roman Odintsov via Pexels) 

Boston had a really hot summer, so I figured I should water my orchids more often than usual. The bark in the pots always looked dry, and orchids do like humidity. Upon repotting an iffy-looking orchid about a week ago, I realized that the bark at the bottom of the pot was still very wet. Some of the roots were starting to rot. Despite my sound rationale, and even though I use an orchid pot, my plant did not appreciate my stepped-up hydration routine. It had been happier when I was out of town. Like a helicopter parent, I needed to back off a bit. 

My dancing lady is really showing off now!

The fact that my dancing lady orchid is flowering again, only four months after I bought it in bloom, reinforces the idea that even plants with finicky reputations sometimes just want to be left alone. I hadn’t gotten around to potting up this orchid yet—it’s still in the plastic container and medium it was in when I bought it. I never repot a plant that’s in bloom, but I intended to put this orchid in a proper pot with fresh bark and sphagnum after the flowers died in May. But I didn’t, and now this orchid has 37 blooms and it just sprouted a new stem, so the show is going to continue for a while. 

I don’t mean to suggest that orchids require nothing, or that silly hacks like watering them with ice cubes is a sufficient way to care for them. Providing good, consistent care is all about finding the right balance for both the plant and the person maintaining it. Orchids have been around for a long time, and they’ve survived extinction events that wiped out most other fauna. It’s okay to go on vacation, and it’s okay to forget about your orchids for a while. They might even thank you for it.

37 blooms and another stem on the way!