Why Are My Orchid Roots Silver or Grey? (It’s Not What You Think)
Silver or grey orchid roots mean the spongy outer layer, called the velamen radicum, has dried out and is telling you that your plant is ready for a watering. If the orchid roots are plump and firm,...
The Best Potting Medium for Orchids (And Why I Stopped Using Bagged “Orchid Mix”)
For the first year or so of growing orchids at home, I just used whatever bag was labelled as "orchid mix" at my local garden centre and assumed this was the best, logical choice; however, on some of...
The Definitive Indoor Succulent Care Guide: Soil Physics, Light Calibration, and Leaf Diagnostics
In my experience, succulents fail indoors usually because of a mismatch between the desert adaptations of the succulent and a typical household environment. Keeping them compact, vibrant and...
How to Know Whether Your Orchid Is Underwatered or Overwatered
This is one of the most common questions I get asked about orchids on this website. When your orchid's leaves are limp and perhaps a but wrinkled it can be really difficult to tell whether your...
Why Is My Orchid Turning Yellow? A Real Diagnostic Guide (Not Just “It’s Normal”)
The first time a leaf on my favourite Phalaenopsis orchid turned bright yellow, I was about to throw the plant out. "Why is my orchid turning yellow?" is one of the most common questions relating to...
How to Rebloom an Orchid: What Actually Triggers a New Flower Spike
Getting an orchid to rebloom seems tricky at first, as you can have a healthy-looking orchid with big green leaves and a healthy root system, but it just doesn't seem to flower. The shift is knowing...
