Orchids are easy - just add water

   

In Singapore many hotels and restaurants have orchid displays on the dining table. Now you can buy orchids cheaply at many supermarkets in the UK. Orchids in pots are really easy to keep. Just add water. Buy a big showy one for a corner of a room or a window with a view you'd rather hide. Or buy a tiny one so it doesn't block a lovely view of your garden. You can buy them from M and S and Homebase and IKEA, and cheaply in late July or early August from supermarkets on the motorway on your way out as gifts and on the way home for yourself. When you buy from stores they come with instructions.
   I used to be afraid of orchids. I thought they were difficult to keep. All they need is either a warm garden or to stay indoors on a warm windowsill.
   Other people may also feel it hard to start growing orchids or keep them alive. So here are a few tips for the beginner.
   My experience has been:
1 Like most plants you only need to add water.
2 How do you stop the water running out of the pot onto your windowsill or table? Check if the bottom of your pot has holes. If so, use a saucer. The deeper the better. You can even save and use a cracked or chipped saucer with the crack on the side you don't see.
3 If you want a pot with holes, you can save one from a cheap herb bought for a pound or less in the supermarket. Or buy one from a garden centre. Or on line eg Amazon or ebay. Or ask a neighbour if they have a spare pot. Or any friend or neighbour with a garden or windowsill or member of the local gardening club. Or make a hole in one of your other existing pots.
4 How much water? If you add too much water it leaks out of the bottom and rots the roots. Simply raise the pot on something smaller which allows the water to drain out of the holes at the bottom of the pot. You can water the plant in the sink, let the water flow away, then ten minutes later put the pot back on the saucer.
5 Look at your plant(s). Admire your plant at the weekend. If you can't concentrate, talk to it. Start with a compliment to the plant and yourself. (eg 'You are a lovely plants. Wasn't my friend kind to give you to me./ Wasn't I clever to buy you!) , as if it's a toddler or a hospital patient, and you are a doting mother in charge.  All you need to do is check whether the flowers and leaves are fading, dropping, wilted, dropping and dry, or colourful, bright and growing bigger.
'Hello, dear little plant - are you thirsty? My goodness, your leaves are wilting.
 Never mind, I'll give you glass of water. Just a moment, I'l fill this watering can/jug. Sip it slowly. Good. Is that enough? That's better. I'll come back tomorrow and see if you're all right. ... '
'My goodness, your leaves have perked up. You are growing well!'
6 If you are keen you can add a plant food - some plants come with plant food, or you can share plant food from another plant, checking whether it is suitable for your plant. Guides to everything are found on line. If you buy from a garden centre, they will give you free advice when you buy or if your plants wilts you can take it back for advice or even send or take in a photo.
7 I keep pot plants as near as possible to the water tap. On a kitchen or bathroom shelf. You might prefer to keep a plant in a conservatory. If you have several plants it's quicker to use a watering can.
Keep it near the kitchen tap under the sink. A really teeny one could even be kept on or beside the plant.
   If your orchid is thriving it will lean towards the sun. You can turn it. And/or attach it to a small cane (like a long thin pencil but without the lead).
8 If you find that watering from the tap over-fills the pot, or you don't want to carry the wet pot, use a watering can. The long spout is really handy. I've tried using a small jug or large waterjug. It's hard to get the water under the plant and into the pot without getting soil and germs on your drinking glass and waterjug. You can wash it out carefully afterwards but if you've space to keep a watering can that's better.
9 Your flowers are going to drop off at some point. Your plant is probably not dead. It has finished its season. To maintain your display, swap its position with another plant which has flowers. After you've given up on it and forgotten, you've watered for months and nothing has happened, suddenly you'll fidn it flowering again. Some plants flower every spring. Others flower twice a year.
10 If your plant is ailing and you are desperate, you can send me a picture, or give up and give it to me, or lend it to me in the hope that I can revive it for you.
11 A happy, strong plant starts growing bigger on top. The  roots will grow bigger, as would happen in the wild to give it support and find more water. If you have time, start reading up and finding out whether you want to re-pot your plant or should leave it as it is.
12 If you want to enter a gardening competition, you cannot use a plant you have recently bought from a shop. But you might divide an old, large orchid into two and keep one of your cuttings for new year's competition. Check your club's rules.
13 Take a photo of your plant when it is new and fresh. Then at very least you will have an everlasting photo you can store on your computer or frame.