So you received an orchid for Valentine’s Day? Don’t panic; they’re not as difficult to care for as you’d expect. In the wild orchids live in the forks of trees, existing on what sunlight, rain, and organic matter might filter down to them from the jungle overhead. Medium light, very little water and soil suit them just fine. They prefer to have their roots creeping outside the pot looking for more nutrition. Don’t repot until the plant will not stand up by itself, and then pot in orchid bark, NOT soil. Water weekly just enough to moisten the bark. (The three ice cube per week method works well). I fertilize every other week. Blooms may last anywhere from three weeks to over a year depending on the strength of the plant. After blooming, a dormancy of a year is about average. So relax and enjoy your orchid!