The key to success with phalaenopsis orchids is to give the plants a brightly lit warm spot out of direct sunlight. This helped a lot. sound a bit fussy, but stick with us! Identify that you have a Phalaenopsis orchid (Phals for short). During this time, you may want to keep the orchid in a more humid area, like a bathroom (as long as it gets some light). This is because the roots are very susceptible Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Never plant growing phalae… A few species will only bloom off old stems, which should not be cut off. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Native to India, China, and Southeast Asia – this orchid with leafy stems and long-lasting flowers does best a bright, warm, humid spot. 1 cm above the node. Phals are epiphytic plants, meaning in the wild they attach themselves by their roots to a tree or rock and get their nutrients from detritus that accumulate around their roots. One of the many reasons why phal orchids became so popular is their easy to care nature. There may be more than one spike on a large plant and it may have anywhere from 3-20 flowers. I have two of these orchids. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. We purchase them as individual plants with either a single or double stem, then we combined them in a single soil-like material. 1. Phalaenopsis can be rebloomed from the same 'just-bloomed' spikes by going down to the first node below the lowest bloom on the spike, and cutting the spike off about half an inch above this node. Yes, you can grow and reflower your moth orchids! One is like a moss while the other is more like wood chip. Generally Phalaenopsis require watering about once every 4 to 7 days. Overhead lights in your house are probably not enough though, so you should keep it near a window where it gets some natural, diffused light. I had no idea how to care for orchids. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Thank you. It is very easy to over-fertilize Phalaenopsis orchids, which can lead to nutrient toxicity and damage to the foliage and roots. Flowers are usually 2–4 inches (5.1–10.2 cm) in diameter and bloom on a spike that may be 12–18 inches (30.5–45.7 cm) in length. If there is no shadow at all, your flower may not get enough light to bloom. rewarded with the most beautiful flowers, you must feed her only the best Transparent pots are best for phals so you can see if there's a need for water by actually seeing the roots. Plants that stand in water or that are watered in the evening will develop bacterial or fungal rot. Orchids needs a nice soft air flow but not too much of a breeze, certainly no direct heating … Once a spike starts to grow, it can take awhile before flowers show up, so be patient! Please note; When it’s time to repot, please be careful when removing your plant from its current pot. ", has made me confident I will be successful in caring for my new plant. If you want something that lasts longer then you can’t go past a graceful Phalaenopsis Orchid. The minimum temperature at night is 15°C, while the average daytime temperature should be around 25°C. ", excited about trying to keep it healthy. % of people told us that this article helped them. 2 of mine have been in bloom for almost 3 months now making them quite a bargain compared to cut flowers. Weekly feeding with a fertilizer designed for orchids. "It was good to learn that I was overwatering my orchids and that I should repot them in an open free draining mix. Now, this is the one time when Phalaenopsis needs to be kept a little cooler, so try keeping her in a cooler part of the house while you wait for flowers to reappear. Orchids don't like to have wet feet! They flower up to three times a year, each flower lasting several weeks . Can they be repotted in the same pot? Keep the crown dry. If you follow a few basic requirements, these plants will reward you with several months of beautiful blooms. This elegant plant makes a gorgeous addition to any home or office, with its long stems, dainty wing-like flowers and deep green foliage. As the potting mix breaks down over time and will eventually suffocate the roots, good Phalaenopsis orchid care instructions will advise repotting orchids every 2-3 years for most types of orchids. During Spring and Summer, the orchids experience faster growth and therefore … Fertilizing with a fertilizer made for orchids. it has access to indirect or filtered sunlight, and keep it at a It’s not just the roots that can rot, the orchid’s crown – the centre, where new … This article received 31 testimonials and 94% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Most people are introduced to orchids through phalaenopsis orchidsa good beginner's orchid. To create this article, 18 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Many of the florists in our team love these plants so much that they also keep them at home. My plants have lost their leaves. ", "Clarified for me how and when to water and also how much and when to fertilize. Not all roots may fit in the pot and that is normal. Phalaenopsis enjoy much the same temperature range as we do. You’ll need a new pot that is an inch or two bigger than the pot your orchid has just outgrown – and make sure the pot has drainage holes. Do I cut off the flower stalk when it dies? {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/62\/Care-for-Phalenopsis-Orchids-%28Moth-Orchids%29-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Care-for-Phalenopsis-Orchids-%28Moth-Orchids%29-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/62\/Care-for-Phalenopsis-Orchids-%28Moth-Orchids%29-Step-1.jpg\/aid476163-v4-728px-Care-for-Phalenopsis-Orchids-%28Moth-Orchids%29-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"