LANDSCAPE AND GARDEN IDEAS IN/FOR FLORIDA
Phalaenopsis Orchids
Having an orchid at home is an amazing adventure. It’s a plant that don’t even seem to be real. It’s flowers can last weeks and weeks, sometimes even months.
According to the American Orchid Society, Phalaenopsis gender is the easiest one to take care of and to make it grow well.
Water –if your Phalaenopsis is potted in bark medium, water once a week. If your plant is potted in moss – water when the top feels dry. Moss retains more water than bark so it will probably happen less often than once a week. It seems that is better to water on mornings. Don’t use distilled water, is enough to make the tepid water run through the plant for a minute and the drain it completely.
Light – Phalaenopsis doesn’t like a lot of light. The best place for it is a window facing East side. Personally I grew them in Rome on a West exposed windows too, but the light was filtered by trees so, especially during the summer time, orchids weren’t exposed to the hot afternoon sun. Once the plant is blooming it can be placed whenever you want in your house.
Temperature – Phalaenopsis orchids enjoy the same temperature we do: about 60 F (about 26 C) during the night and 70-80 F (21-27 C) during the day. The maximum temperature shouldn’t go over 95 F (35 C). It’s important to avoid fluctuation of the temperature as it can cause buds drop.
Orchids need humidity but it’s better to avoid to leave plants with roots in water as it will cause their rot.
According to American Orchid Society, the spike can be cut even at
the leaves level and it will bloom anyway after a year. Personally,
since I was able to make them bloom again only when started cutting over
the first or second node. You can try both ways and see which one works
better for you.
And have fun!
For more information go to
American Orchid
Society website.
Pictures taken at Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach (Florida)