Welcome to OrchidBoard!
Don't want o scare you,everything said above is true, but....
Many orchids, especially sold in mass market, are overpacked in sphagnum to keep the roots moist for potentially long periods of abuse in the store. This keeps everything looking good, but the roots can develop rot.
If you want to just enjoy your orchid as a pleasant and thoughtful gift, do so. If you want to keep it alive and blooming for years, the first thing you need to do is look at its roots. Healthy roots range from greenish to white to light tan, and are firm. Roots that are getting rotten will turn dark brown to black, and get mushy. Depending on the species of orchid, they may be fat and plum, or thin. If there is evidence of root rot, you should repot immediately. There are many threads here on exactly how to do it. The biggest causes of rot (in my opinion) is over-watering (without a chance to dry between), with a close second of the media getting old and decomposed.
You should also know what kind of orchid it is, because some like to be kept moist, not wet, some like pretty dry conditions.
The light needed for growth and rebloom also varies, but usually can be accommodated by putting it in the correct facing window.
There are culture sheets for most common species here on the board.
Best of luck, and post pics of your new plant if you have a chance.
Last edited by BobInBonita; 01-21-2011 at 01:14 AM..
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