How to Care for Phalaenopsis Orchids
By April | September 29, 2007
Go into any shop that sells plants you’re more than likely to see the Phalaenopsis genus of orchids. The main reason for this is that they’re very easy to care for. Most orchids are thought to be very difficult to tend but the Phalaenopsis is an ideal for choice for most people. Plus the flowers are simply gorgeous.
Light and Temperature
They like a little bit of bright light however if you place them in direct sunlight for even just a few minutes, this can damage their leaves. They prefer light which has been filtered through curtains or outside trees because in the wild they grow on trees which provide natural shade. If you put them in a south facing window, make sure they are shaded.
Phalaenopsis orchids prefer a warm climate where during the day temperatures are around 75-85F/24C-29C. But they’ll do best if the night time temperature dips down to produce a 15-20 degree Fahrenheit difference, not too much more nor less. For areas where the summer nights can cool off to 45-55F (7C-13C), it’s best to keep them indoors or in a greenhouse.
Watering and Humidity
As with most orchids, Phalaenopsis like humidity levels to be around 60-70% This is too humid for most humans so you can increase the humidity for the plant by using a humidity tray. All this means is that you should place the pot on a tray of watered pebbles. You can also use a mister to spray the plant.
Some orchids don’t like a lot of water however the Phalaenopsis is an exception. Make sure that their roots are kept wet. Make sure that the roots don’t dry out. Normally watering the pot once a week is suffice.
Feeding and Potting
Feeding once per month with a high nitrogen fertilizer is ideal. Just dilute one teaspoon in a gallon of water and you’ll have plenty for weeks.
Use a medium-grade wood bark in the form of chips as a growing medium to provide support to the plant. Re-potting is only needed every other year although it’s unlikely that you’ll need a larger pot as the roots generally grow upwards.
When the flowers die and drop off after three months, cut the stem back halfway. It can take a year for them to re-grow however these plants often produce blooms twice per year.
Provide simple care and you’ll be rewarded with huge flowers of pink, white and other colours.
Topics: Home and Garden |
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