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The Phalaenopsis orchid is commonly known
as the moth orchid as the flowers are borne
on slender arching stems and the blooms do look
like moths in mid flight.
This is a warm growing orchid and needs temperatures
of at least 15C (60F) during the winter and
can be allowed to rise up to 28C (82F) during
the summer - 18C (64F) being the optimum.
This type of orchid likes high temperatures
and high humidity and so should be misted at
least once a day during the summer but not allowing
water to rest in the centre of the plant overnight
or rot may occur with lighting speed! - and
we are talking overnight in some cases if it's
cold too.
Phalaenopsis make excellent house plants and
will thrive in a centrally heated house providing
misting is applied frequently.
These orchids will strive to get out of their
pots and want to adopt a more horizontal position,
due to the way they grow in their natural habitat.
They grow on the trunks of large tropical trees
and grow at an angle of 30 - 40 degrees to the
trunk.
Light:
Phalaenopsis like good light but will also tolerate
some shade during the growing season, they should
not be kept in full sun or they will scorch.
Keep them in a well lit position during the
winter months.
Watering:
Phalaenopsis do actually like plenty of water
but they don't like sitting in damp situations
so a very open mixture of compost of required
to grow them successfully.
Water these plants once every 10 - 14 days during
the winter months (depending on temperature,
warmer - more often, cooler less often) and
weekly during the summer.
If you mount your orchid on bark then you will
need to water or spray the roots daily otherwise
dehydration may occur.
Feeding:
Feed every two weeks during the summer months
with an all purpose plant food at half the strength
the pack recommends, feed no more than once
every month with quarter strength food during
the winter.
Re-potting:
Repotting should be undertaken during the spring
months if grown in pots and should be done annually
using a large grade bark compost, if you grow
on bark then re-potting or re-mounting need
not be done until the plant is unmanageable.
Phalaenopsis can be induced to flower again
on finishing flower spikes by cutting the flower
stem off just above a node on the stem - this
looks like a tiny leaf that lays flat to the
stem. New growth will start from this node after
about a month or so and flowers will develop
after two to three months.
Composting
with worms
Passion for peonies
Hosta hints
Growing Cymbidium
orchids
Making
the most of clematis
Succeed
with Primula auricula
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