Orchid enthusiasts are turning to new methods to mimic the plant’s natural environment and they’re impressed by the results.
A TikToker who goes by Mrs Clare Hoops on social media recently shared her experience growing orchids in water.
She says she was mind-blown when the blooms began producing larger flowers and that she hasn’t looked back since.
“I’ve got a public service announcement about orchids,” she said. “This is something I discovered years ago and my mind was blown.
Orchids may grow better in water
GETTY / TIKTOK /MRSCLAREHOOPS
"After bringing the plant home, remove it from its pot and free the roots from the potting material.
"Find a jug of water, and carefully squeeze all the roots into the recipient until they’re fully submerged in water."
Clare showed her viewers a plant that she'd transferred to a bottle three years ago, revealing its large showy petals.
“Every year it flowers even bigger and better,” she declared. “If you want your orchids to just do their thing, change the water once a month.”
This approach to growing orchids taps into the orchids’ epiphytic nature, where the plant grows on other plants rather than in the soil.
When growing out in nature, the decorative blooms produce aerial roots that absorb moisture and nutrients from their surroundings.
The water can replicate these conditions, allowing roots to thrive without traditional potting media.
Another method some growers adopt involves submerging the roots in water for a period before re-introducing them to the soil.
This alternating pattern requires careful management of wet-dry cycles, as oversaturation can lead to houseplant root rot.
Experts at Gardening Know How confirm that the method can yield positive results.
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Orchids will thrive if given the right careGETTYThey explained: “Though it seems contradictory, growing orchids in water can offer a solution to plants suffering from too much moisture.
“Water culture orchids are not necessarily left constantly submerged in water.
“They are usually rotated between wet and dry; for example, two days of soaking in water and five days of drying out.
“This pattern more closely mimics the plant’s experience in the wild and lets roots breathe.”