Variegated Purple and White Orchids; Regardless of which window you place your orchids in, you need to protect them from the direct midday sun. Placing them behind a curtain or blind will be a perfect spot for orchids, much like the light filtering through palm trees in a forest. Since they don't have the ability to store water in their roots, they are not very tolerant of drought. Watering frequency can vary depending on the relative humidity of the environment, the composition of the potting soil, the type and size of the pot. In general, orchids like to dry out between waterings. However, they should not be allowed to dry out completely.