Orchid Care: 4 Essential Tips to Protect Your Plants from Severe Weather

Florida’s hurricane season is an expected challenge. It’s essential to protect your orchid babies when a storm is on the horizon. With a few simple precautions, you can ensure your orchids weather the storm and continue to bloom beautifully.

1. Dry First, Soak Later

Sounds counterintuitive, right? But here’s the trick: before the hurricane makes landfall, keep your orchids on the dry side. This helps minimize the risk of bacteria and fungal infections. Then, in the last 5–12 hours before the storm hits, give them a good soaking. Saturate them to the max. Why? Two reasons:

Staying Grounded: Heavier plants are less likely to get tossed around by strong winds.
Water Supply Woes: If your water comes from a well, you may lose electricity for days or weeks. A well-hydrated orchid will be a happier one when the power’s out.

Even if you're able to bring your entire collection indoors, water them thoroughly with a few applications spaced minutes apart. Orchids can go a couple of days without water—trust me, the last thing you’ll want to do mid-storm is juggle watering cans inside!

2. Keep Low, But Not Too Low

Wind gets stronger as you go higher, so keep your orchids as close to the ground as possible to minimize the risk of them taking flight. But avoid placing them directly on the ground—flooding can expose them to harmful bacteria and fungi. Think low, but elevated.

3. Skip the Tarp

It might be tempting to throw a tarp over your orchids, but that flapping material can cause more harm than the wind itself. If your orchids are under shade cloth, wrap it up tightly to protect it. After the storm, you’ll want that shade intact because the sun’s rays can be intense and damaging in the aftermath.

4. Be Ready for Tree Loss

If your orchids are under trees, plan for the chance that those protective canopies could come crashing down or disappear altogether. Have a backup plan to protect your plants from the harsh sun in case your shady shelter doesn’t survive.

Bonus Tip: Secure Those Pots

Loose pots can become flying debris during a storm, so make sure they’re stabilized. Consider moving heavier pots to safer areas or even stacking them to create a barrier for your more delicate plants.

Final Thought

You’ve put love and care into growing your orchids, and a little storm prep can make all the difference. Stay safe, keep your blooms secure, and fingers crossed for clear skies ahead!