How to Provide Proper Teacup Orchid Care

The term “teacup orchid” is a marketing name rather than a specific species. These plants are typically miniature Phalaenopsis, also known as Moth Orchids, chosen for their compact size and sold in small pots resembling teacups. Their petite form and elegant flowers make them a popular choice for gifts and for adding a touch of nature to small living spaces or offices.

Essential Teacup Orchid Care

Teacup orchids thrive in bright, indirect light, similar to the intensity near an east-facing window with gentle morning sun. Avoid placing them in direct, harsh sunlight, as this can scorch the leaves. The light should be sufficient to read a book by. If the leaves are a very dark green, it may indicate the plant needs more light, while yellow-green leaves often signify it is receiving an adequate amount.

Avoid using ice cubes for watering, as the extreme cold can shock the roots. A more effective method is to soak the plant. Remove the inner plastic pot from its decorative teacup and submerge it in lukewarm water for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the potting medium to become fully saturated.

After soaking, let the pot drain completely before returning it to the decorative container. This prevents the roots from sitting in water, which can lead to root rot. Allow the potting medium, usually bark or moss, to become nearly dry to the touch before watering again, which could be every 7 to 10 days depending on your home’s environment.

Teacup orchids prefer stable temperatures between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C). They are sensitive to sudden temperature changes, so keep them away from drafty windows, doors, or vents. As tropical plants, they also appreciate higher humidity levels between 50% and 70%. To increase ambient moisture, place the orchid on a tray filled with pebbles and water, ensuring the pot sits on the pebbles and not in the water.

Potting and Feeding Your Orchid

Orchids require a specific growing medium and should not be planted in standard potting soil, as their roots need significant air circulation. The ideal potting mix is coarse and airy, composed of materials like fir bark, charcoal, sphagnum moss, or coconut husks. This mix allows for excellent drainage while retaining enough moisture.

The decorative teacup usually holds a smaller, functional plastic pot with drainage slits where the orchid lives. An orchid needs to be repotted every one to two years, or when the potting medium has started to decompose. Another sign it’s time to repot is when the roots have completely filled the container.

When you repot, select a new container that is one to two inches wider in diameter. Gently remove the orchid, clear away the old bark from the roots, and trim any roots that are brown, mushy, or dead. Place the plant into the new pot at the same depth it was previously and fill in around the roots with fresh, pre-moistened orchid mix.

To support healthy growth and blooming, feed your orchid during its growing season using a balanced fertilizer formulated for orchids. The “weakly, weekly” approach is often recommended, which involves diluting the fertilizer to a quarter of its strength and applying it with every watering. Do not fertilize a plant that is completely dry or dormant.

Encouraging Your Orchid to Rebloom

After the initial flowers fade, your teacup orchid can be encouraged to bloom again. The primary trigger for a new flower spike is a drop in nighttime temperature. For several weeks, exposing the plant to a cooler environment at night, with temperatures dropping by 10-15°F (5-8°C), can signal the orchid to start the blooming process. Moving it to a cooler room or near a window in autumn can achieve this effect.

Once the blooming cycle is over, the old flower stem requires attention. If the stem is still green and healthy, trim it just above a node (a small bump on the stem below where the lowest flower was). This can encourage a new flowering branch to grow. If the stem has turned brown or yellow, cut it back to the base of the plant to conserve energy for a new spike.

Troubleshooting Common Teacup Orchid Problems

If you notice lower leaves turning yellow, it may be a natural part of the plant’s aging process. However, widespread yellowing can be a sign of overwatering or too much direct sunlight. It is important to assess the plant’s conditions and check the roots to determine the cause.

Mushy, brown roots are a clear indicator of root rot, a condition caused by excessive moisture and poor drainage. If you discover rotted roots during repotting, they should be trimmed away with sterile scissors to prevent the decay from spreading.

Conversely, limp or wrinkled leaves are often a symptom of underwatering, meaning the roots are too dry to transport water to the leaves. A thorough soaking should help rehydrate the plant and restore the leaves’ firmness. Also, keep an eye out for common pests like mealybugs, which can be removed by dabbing them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol.