With over 25,000 types of orchid, there are plenty of styles to choose from. This classic flowering houseplant will bloom happily in your home with the right care. Cambria ‘Nelly Isler’ is a sought after classic in the orchid world, loved for its prolific, long lasting display of carmine fragrant flowers. Unlike other orchids, these grow from ‘pseudobulbs’, each of which produces two to three leaves and a flower spike.
For a happy orchid – and lots of flowers – put yours in bright, indirect sunlight. To encourage your orchid to flower more, feed it orchid fertiliser in spring and summer, and deadhead any faded flowers just above the bud. This will help your orchid put more energy into growing spectacular new flowers, rather than trying to save those that are past their best.
The other trick to encourage ‘Nelly Isler’ to flower is to expose her to cooler daytime temperatures of about 10 degrees Celsius for a period of four weeks over winter. This mimics the seasonal temperature changes she would undergo in her native environment. Repot Lena into fresh orchid compost every two to three years as you see new growth emerging from her pseudobulbs.
Orchids are tropical plants, so they like plenty of humidity. Spritz your orchid’s leaves with a mister every few days, but try to avoid the flowers as the petals can become marked by water. Overwatering is the most common way to kill an orchid, so always check the pot before you give yours a drink. If it feels heavy, leave it alone; if it feels light, it’s time for a drink. The best way to water your orchid is to dunk the whole pot in tepid water (even better if it's rainwater) and let it drain thoroughly so that the roots aren’t left standing in water.
Colourful, compact and a classic houseplant, orchids make a great gift.
Did you know?
Orchid seeds are incredibly tiny and can only be seen under a microscope. A single seed pod can hold up to 3 million seeds – that’s a lot of orchids!
