How to Care for an Orchid in the UAE (and Keep It Flowering)
Quick answer: to keep an orchid flowering in a UAE home, give it bright but indirect light, water it about once a week by soaking the roots and letting them drain fully, keep it away from AC vents, and never let it sit in water. When the flowers drop, cut the stem above the second node and a healthy orchid can bloom again within a few months.
Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are one of the longest-lasting gifts you can send. With the right care, the flowers stay for weeks, often months. Here is how to look after one in a UAE apartment or office.
Light: bright, but never direct sun
Orchids like the light from a window without the sun hitting the leaves. In the UAE, direct afternoon sun through glass is strong enough to scorch them. A spot near an east-facing window, or a metre or two back from a bright window, is ideal. Dark green, floppy leaves mean too little light; yellow or scorched patches mean too much.
Water: soak, drain, then wait
- Check the roots first. Silvery-white roots mean it’s time to water. Green roots mean they still have water.
- Soak, don’t sprinkle. Run room-temperature water through the pot for a minute, or stand the inner pot in a bowl of water for 10 minutes.
- Drain completely. Let all the water run out before putting it back in its decorative pot. Standing water rots the roots.
- Repeat about once a week. In a cool, air-conditioned room it may need less; near a sunny window, a little more.
Skip the popular “ice cube” trick. Room-temperature water is gentler on a tropical plant.
Air conditioning and humidity
Orchids come from humid forests, and AC dries the air. Keep them at least 1.5–2 metres from vents, and consider standing the pot on a tray of pebbles with a little water (the pot should sit above the water, not in it). Grouping plants together also helps.
When the flowers fall
Don’t throw the plant away. Once the last flower drops, cut the stem about 1 cm above the second node (the small bump on the stem) counting up from the base. Many orchids send out a new flower spike from there. If the stem turns brown, cut it off at the base and let the plant rest and grow new leaves.
Feeding and repotting
- Use a weak orchid fertiliser every third or fourth watering while the plant is growing or flowering.
- Repot every one to two years into fresh orchid bark, ideally after flowering. Never use normal potting soil.
Orchids from 800petals
Orchids make elegant gifts for new homes, offices and anyone who prefers something that lasts longer than cut flowers. See the White Orchid Bowl or the Double Stemmed Pink Orchid. If you’d rather send cut flowers, try the Orchid Elegance arrangement, or browse all our indoor plants. For other easy plants, read our guide to easy indoor plants for UAE apartments.
Frequently asked questions
A healthy moth orchid usually flowers for one to three months, and longer in a cool room out of direct sun.
Usually a sudden change: a cold draught from the AC, moving the plant, or drying out. Keep it in one stable spot away from vents.
One old leaf at the bottom turning yellow is normal. Several yellow leaves usually mean too much water or too much direct sun.
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