Alan Titchmarsh’s simple orchid care ‘trick’ which you can buy from Asda and Tesco

Alan Titchmarsh, a household name in British gardening, has offered plenty of advice to green-fingered enthusiasts throughout his career – particularly on growing houseplants.

The moth orchid, which holds the title of Britain’s favorite orchid variety, thrives in tropical climates in Asia and Australia with a preference for balmy conditions. Given the UK’s variable temperature, replicating this environment can be challenging. However, in a YouTube video, Alan revealed his best tips for caring for moth orchids.

He explained: “There is one group of flowering plants that until recently scared the pants off people because they thought they must be difficult to grow – orchids.

“Then a few years ago, along came the moth orchid, the phalaenopsis. Well, to be perfectly honest, it’s been around for a long time. These flowers will last not weeks, but months,” Express reports.

READ MORE: ‘Watch a space’ for wasps or ‘risk costly damage’

The key to their maintenance, he pointed out, is moisture management. “The trick is to take care of them. Mainly don’t overwater them, because if you look right down, you’ll see that most of them come in a clear pot.”

This is due to a special requirement of the plant. “That’s because these roots here, well, they’re covered in something called phellogen.”

“It absorbs atmospheric moisture, but it also likes to be exposed to light, so these clear pots will let light through.”

The experienced gardener recommended the moth orchid as an excellent choice for those just starting their houseplant journey. Despite their hardiness, he warned that pitfalls such as overwatering could be fatal from root rot.

Alan shared, “By growing them, not really compost, but chipped bark, because this is not a terrestrial orchid, one that grows in the ground, it’s an epiphyte.”

He also offered a crucial tip about watering orchids, warning owners not to let them sit in water, advising that water can drain freely through the compost and from the bottom.

The plant expert explained: “If you look back at this orchid blooming so beautifully, you will see that it is not the first time it has bloomed.

“It used to bloom up here, the stem was cut off…this bud grew and turned into another new flower spike, and that’s the key.”

He also noted, “If you look down the stem, you’ll see scales from time to time and they’re actually surrounding the buds.”

Alan concluded with advice on pruning, saying: “If you cut back where the stem has died a little, without going any further, then other stems can grow, just like this one, from those buds.”

If you want ideas and inspiration for planning your next UK adventure, plus selected offers and competitions, sign up to our weekly 2Chill newsletter here