Care Instructions for Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids)
Phalaenopsis are easy to look after & have long lasting blooms.
As long as a few basic rules are followed they will give you years of pleasure.
Do NOT over water. Overwatering will shorten the life of you flowers, cause them to drop and can even kill your plant.
Water by submerging ¾ of the pot in tepid water & leave to soak for 5-10mins, after soaking, drain & put back on display.
Do not stand permanently in a tray of water, this will kill your plant.
Soaking gives the bark that they are growing in chance to soak up the water, which it then slowly releases over the week. If you pour water in the top of pot it quickly runs through& doesn’t give the plant sufficient water. Try to keep the crown/leaves of the plant dry, this is especially important during winter as cold & wet between the leaves can encourage a fungal attack that could kill your plant.
They do best indoors & require good light but no direct sunlight.
Winter Care
Keep phalaenopsis indoors, especially at night.
Water in the morning once a week during winter, this will give your plant chance to dry out before the cold nights.
Summer Care
Water your plant every 5 days during the warmer months. To increase humidity you can give your plant (not flowers)a daily spray with water during hot dry months of Sept/Oct.
Fertilise with an orchid fertiliser or a VERY WEAK liquid fertiliser once a month while watering. This will help with re-blooming & also making the blooms last longer.
Re-flowering
Once your flowers are finished do NOT cut off the flower spike, leave it on the plant and it should produce more flower buds. If you cut the spike off, the plant will have to produce a whole new flower spike taking it longer to bloom again. Only if the spike starts to turn yellow, cut it about an inch below the yellow part.
If you plant is not re-blooming after a few months it is probably too ‘comfortable’ & you are being too kind to it – Phalaenopsis thrive on neglect. Try moving it to another position for a few weeks such as on your veranda or on top of your shower wall. The change in conditions will spur it into flowering again. If you haven’t been fertilising try feeding your plant – what you put in you get out.
Phalaenopsis are easy to look after & have long lasting blooms.
As long as a few basic rules are followed they will give you years of pleasure.
Do NOT over water. Overwatering will shorten the life of you flowers, cause them to drop and can even kill your plant.
Water by submerging ¾ of the pot in tepid water & leave to soak for 5-10mins, after soaking, drain & put back on display.
Do not stand permanently in a tray of water, this will kill your plant.
Soaking gives the bark that they are growing in chance to soak up the water, which it then slowly releases over the week. If you pour water in the top of pot it quickly runs through& doesn’t give the plant sufficient water. Try to keep the crown/leaves of the plant dry, this is especially important during winter as cold & wet between the leaves can encourage a fungal attack that could kill your plant.
They do best indoors & require good light but no direct sunlight.
Winter Care
Keep phalaenopsis indoors, especially at night.
Water in the morning once a week during winter, this will give your plant chance to dry out before the cold nights.
Summer Care
Water your plant every 5 days during the warmer months. To increase humidity you can give your plant (not flowers)a daily spray with water during hot dry months of Sept/Oct.
Fertilise with an orchid fertiliser or a VERY WEAK liquid fertiliser once a month while watering. This will help with re-blooming & also making the blooms last longer.
Re-flowering
Once your flowers are finished do NOT cut off the flower spike, leave it on the plant and it should produce more flower buds. If you cut the spike off, the plant will have to produce a whole new flower spike taking it longer to bloom again. Only if the spike starts to turn yellow, cut it about an inch below the yellow part.
If you plant is not re-blooming after a few months it is probably too ‘comfortable’ & you are being too kind to it – Phalaenopsis thrive on neglect. Try moving it to another position for a few weeks such as on your veranda or on top of your shower wall. The change in conditions will spur it into flowering again. If you haven’t been fertilising try feeding your plant – what you put in you get out.