Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:48 pm
The phalaenopsis orchid is a flower that is said to require a lot of care. Nevertheless, if you know the right things to do and the basic tips, you will be assured of having a beautiful flower for a long time. And truth be told, these flowers are so pretty that we doubt you’ll have just one! How do you care for these gorgeous floral beauties? Here are all of our care tips to take great care of your beautiful phalaenopsis orchids without breaking the bank either.
With these tips, you may find that having beautiful houseplants and getting a magnificent bloom. You’ll see: with these tips, orchid care is not only for the most professional and experienced gardeners!
Contents
1) Choose the location of the orchid with choice
The ideal temperature for an orchid is between 18 and 21°. It likes humidity but you should avoid dry heat sources such as fireplaces or even radiators and also protect it from draughts.
Find a bright spot, but not in direct sunlight. Direct light can burn its leaves. So avoid direct sunlight! If the windows are veiled, it may be appropriate. In winter, leave the orchid towards a window so that it gets a maximum of light, even if it means moving it later. Indeed, the rays are not dangerous for the orchid at this season and being towards a window will avoid it to miss light. Little hint: an orchid that lacks light produces longer and less wide leaves!
2) What about the pot?
Prefer a transparent plastic pot. Indeed, the transparent pot will allow you to watch its roots, which is a huge advantage for the culture of orchids. You can then add a pot cover if you wish! Clay balls are also always a plus for any plant, especially for beautiful flowers.
3) Watering the orchid
Don’t give it hard water (like tap water), it won’t stand it. Prefer rainwater or mineral water at room temperature. As long as it has non-calcareous water, it will be fine. A clue to know if it is necessary to water is to look at the roots: if they are green, it is good! If they are grayish or the green is fading, you need to water.
A flowering orchid should be watered every 8 to 10 days when in bloom, and about every 15 to 20 days once it has deflowered. Be aware that if the weather is warmer, you will probably water more. Do not leave standing water in the saucer and wait for the soil to dry between waterings. Otherwise there is a risk that the roots will rot. So put the pot in a basin of water for a few minutes and drain well. A few drops of lemon will please these acid loving plants and can counteract the effects of lime.
4) Fertilizers for orchids
You should not use too much and it would even be wise to use half as much! A fertilizer rich in potassium will be good for the growth of flowers and a nitrogenous fertilizer will be good for the leaves.
5) Repotting
This is done every two years with a larger pot of up to one centimeter in diameter so that the orchid is tightly packed. After repotting, check that the orchid does not move when you shake the pot. As substrate, you can use a homogeneous mixture of fine pine bark (treated one day in aliette to eliminate mites and fungi), dried or fresh sphagnum moss and polystyrene balls.
Be careful not to break its roots when repotting an orchid!
6) Flowering
Wait until there are no more flowers left before acting. Cut the flower stems below the first flower, making sure to cut above the node where the new flower stem will start. Then place in a vase filled with rainwater to which you have added a few drops of lemon juice and fertilizer. After cutting, place the orchid in a cooler place (about 15° and 13° minimum) for a few days.
The regrowth can be long. You have to be very patient. It can take weeks, months… even years!