Orchid lover names five mistakes to avoid and one thing to 'never' do to your plant

Orchids are popular household plants for their unique blooms, but the tropical plant requires special care to keep them lasting as long as possible.

Its colourful flowers are long-lasting, but they can be challenging to grow. Choosing the right species and cultivating a good environment is key to maximising the blooms.

TannerThePlanter, a plant hobbyist on social media, has shared his top five types for nurturing the intimidating but stunning houseplant, as reports the Express. "Here are five mistakes to avoid when growing Orchids," he said in a TikTok video before delving into his advice.

Five orchid care mistakes

1. Don't water with ice

Tanner advises to "never" water orchids with ice, a method that is popular with other houseplant lovers. He explains that as orchids are tropical plants, they "don't know the cold".

Instead, just water them from the top with room temperature water and only hit the roots. Let the excess drain out. How do you know when it's time to water again? The TikToker says the roots will turn green - if they're still silver, hold off.

2. How to water

When your orchid needs watering, avoid its leaves. "Like I said, don't hit the leaves with water. Only water the roots when we're watering our orchids," said Tanner.

3. Don't throw it away

Don't lose hope if your plant's flowers have died. As Tanner explains: "Don't throw the orchid away when the blooms have fallen off. With proper care they will bloom again and give you brand new flowers."

4. Planting your orchid

The content creator says you shouldn't ever plant orchids in typical houseplant soil. He advises for reaching for something more airy like orchid bark or long fibre spaghnum moss

5. Where to place your orchid

Placement is important - and it's key for orchids to be close to sources of light. Tanner finished up his list by urging owners to keep orchids not far from windows. It needs to be placed right next to your window to get the proper amount of sky that it needs to see in order to bloom.

Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.