An orchid needs a place with much light, but no exposure to direct sunlight during its growing season (March – September). During this period, the sunlight is too intense and can burn the leaves.
The plant prefers room temperature, between 15 and 25 degrees centigrade.
You can give the plant some special orchid fertilizer once a month. Add this fertilizer to the bowl of water in which you dip the plant.
When the plant outgrows the nursery pot (usually after 1.5 – 2 years) it is time to transfer the plant to a larger pot. The new pot must have holes in the bottom to drain excess water. This prevents root rot. The orchid prefers an airy soil mixture, therefore do not press the soil too tightly. Use the special orchid soil. After re-potting, soak the plant thoroughly using room-temperature water to achieve the ideal connection between the soil and the roots and to achieve quick growth. After 2 weeks start giving half of the normal water quantity. After 4 – 6 months, fertilize the plant once a month.
Most problems usually occur during watering. People often overwater. The orchid should NEVER stand with its roots in water. There are holes in the bottom of the nursery pot which drain off excess water. If the orchid is in an ornamental pot, the water will remain in that pot. Too much water will rot your orchid's roots.
Take the orchid together with the nursery pot out of the ornamental pot (leave the orchid in the nursery pot) and dip it into a bowl of room-temperature water. Leave the plant in the water for 5 – 10 minutes. Drain the plant well and then put it back into the ornamental pot. This way you cannot overwater.
Take care that there isn't too much water in the bowl. The nursery pot can have no more than 75% water. Depending on the situation in your home (temperature and humidity) and the weather outside (lots or a little sun), you have to dip the plant once a week. After a while you will be able to tell by the weight of the pot whether it is necessary to dip the plant. You will learn by doing. Dip a little more often when the weather is warm, a little less than once a week when the weather is dark and cool.