Orchids are popular as houseplants because of their flowering and elegance. Phalaenopsis orchids are popular for beginning orchid growers because they are easier to care for than most other orchids. These orchids are native to Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Australia. Phalaenopsis comes in shades of pink, lavender, white and yellow. With the proper care, Phalaenopsis can flower year after year and provide beautiful, stunning flowers as a reward to its grower. The three main components that any orchid needs to thrive including Phalaenopsis are water, light and fertilizer.
Phalaenopsis, like most orchids, need water to live. The general guideline is to water them once every ten to fourteen days. You may adjust this number depending upon your particular environment. Phalaenopsis is an epiphytic orchid. This means that it is not usually found planted in the ground. Instead, this orchid thrives on living on other objects such as a tree. When you water this orchid, it likes to have its roots dry almost completely before the next watering. Typically, most people pot Phalaenopsis in a bark type of medium. Fir or Pine bark are usually used. The bark can hold moisture and nutrients until the plant is ready to accept them. Examine the bark for dryness when preparing to water the orchid again. Sometimes peat moss is used in the pot. The peat moss also holds moisture, so you may be able to water less often. After you water your orchids, allow the excess water to drain. Allowing it to stay in the pot will cause root rot. Root rot can cause your orchid to wilt and die.
Phalaenopsis needs light to convert food into energy and to bloom. This orchid favors a cooler natural light. Placing this orchid in an easterly facing window is the preferred direction. Here, it can enjoy a cooler morning sunlight and a cooler light in the evening. Midday sun may be too hot. Move your Phalaenopsis to a different window during the hottest part of the day to prevent leaf burn. Then move it back to the easterly window for the next day. You may also use blinds or shades to soften the light during the hottest hours of the day. If the cooler natural light is not readily available, you can also use artificial light. Fluorescent light is a common choice. Set this light on a timer and a schedule so that the maximum exposure does not exceed twelve hours. Twelve hours is about the maximum amount of light for both natural and artificial for Phalaenopsis. The artificial light should be placed about a foot above the plant.
Fertilize Phalaenopsis about once every two weeks. This is the guideline for feeding it. In general, just before the blooming season you may want to feed it on a regular schedule until the blooms have come about; then stop feeding. This orchid favors a temperature of around 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Just before blooming, allow the orchid to be exposed to cooler temperatures at night for a week or two. The coolness exposure tends to bring about a better bloom from Phalaenopsis. Increase the cooler temperatures based upon how well your orchids are blooming. If the blooms do not seem to be there, increase the exposure to the cooler temperatures at night. Phalaenopsis should have better blooms. Water your orchid first before fertilizing. Then apply a diluted solution of fertilizer. The solution should contain about 1/3 the recommended manufacturer's dosage. Generally, you should stop feeding it completely after the blooming season is over. The type of fertilizer to use is balanced fertilizer. Fertilizer has a label that contains three numbers and dashes in between. 20-20-20 or 16-16-16 are balanced fertilizers. They each have equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash. 20-20-20 means 20% nitrogen, 20% phosphorous and 20% potash. The nitrogen helps foliage growth and general health; the phosphorous encourages bloom development and good root growth; and potash helps resists diseases and contributes to overall good health.
Phalaenopsis is a popular houseplant because it can thrive in non-tropical temperatures about what us humans usually endure. This makes them easy to care for indoors. Most garden centers and other growers will be able to tell you helpful hints to care for these orchids the best way. The successful formula for healthy, happy orchids are the right amount of light, water and fertilizer. Given the proper amount of care, your orchids should bloom season after season and reward you with beautiful blooms year after year.
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