Many time I have heard the name Queens of plants when referring to phalaenopsis orchids, because of their exotic and alien beauty. Something we can call Zen and peace in the space it inhibits. It's known as the Moth orchid as it resembles a moth in flight, called in short Phal which is the most common reference when speaking with other orchid growers.
This native to Southern-east Asian regions orchid genus includes approximately 60 species and hundreds of hybrids, is one of the most popular orchids in trade to-date. It's also the easiest to grow and holds it's flowers for months, from personal experience I know that some hybrids can hold a single flower for more that six months.
They come in almost every possible colour, pattern, match; from pure white flowers up to 10 cm in size, by cream, peach, violet, pink, deep reds, oranges to bleached harlequins with ink like spots, kaleidoscope Phals with coloured veins creating beautiful patterns to world orchids with dot patterns, from tiny sizes to huge plants with fragrance or not, they are magnificent and beautiful. As it is hard to pass by one plant and ignore it.
Care:
They are one of the easiest plants to grow home, as long as you make sure not to over water them or leave completely bone dry. Make sure to place the pot with the plant in a lit but sunny location, depending on the zone you are in the sun may burn the leafs, causing problems in the future.
Nothern placing is only good if the orchid will receive sun in the early morning till around 11 am, then it should be moved to a slightly shaded spot.
My plants are very happy in a south window, its not shaded they receive plenty of indirect light and in the late afternoon around 4 pm, they receive a doze of some late direct sun.
Phals love misting in the evening or mornings, depending on the weather outside; don't overdo it though, they like some moisture in the air but not to be dropping wet with water droplets going down the leafs to the crown as this may cause root.
Aerial roots - what is that? You may have noticed that Phalaenopsis have these strange green or silver roots hanging outside from the pot in al directions. First of all don't think they need to be in the ground, second don't cut them until you are 100% sure this root is dead.
Since the climate the orchids grow in is much different than ours, and the roots grow in bark, moss and other dead matter gathered on the rocks and trees they developed the ability to gather the moisture from the air with their roots. So if your plant grows some roots outside the pot, that means it's in good health and you spraying it from time to time will make it very happy.
Best pot for a Phal will be a plastic transparent one, they produce special orchid pots with lots of holes on the bottom, but a good advice will be to drill some more holes on the side to help aerate the bark or whatever medium you are growing.
Coloured or clay pots will be no good as the Phalaenopsis roots photosynthesise just like leaves and like to have a visible access to the light.
Watering is quite simple, put the orchid pot to a bigger pot (best method) with water (3/4 hight) and leave the plant to have a good soak once in a week. Fertilize once monthly or once every two months with a lover dosage following the orchid fertilizer you are using.
Blooming:
These orchids are very reliable bloomers, they will bloom constantly if the plant is healthy and strong. Usually the bloom period starts in Autumn and can last till next year and the plant may send continuous streams of flowers.
When the flowering has finished, we are bored with the flowers (after few months) or we think the plant may be straining itself and using to much of it's resources we should cut the flower stem closely to the leaf.
Advice:
Sometimes we may want the orchid to bloom continuously for a long time but this may be hurtful for the plant, allow it to rest and regenerate. Never allow your orchid to bloom more than 6 - 8 months, allow it for a period of rest and growth.
Bigger pot?
When you need to re-pot the plant give it time to rest, if it's in flower sometimes it's a good idea to cut the stems especially if the flowers were on it for a long time. After you change to bigger container it will need time to adjust to a bigger pot and develop roots and build its foliage.
When re potting make sure only to go one size bigger, or just replace the medium it's currently growing. Phalaenopsis orchids like to have a snug environment and if the pot is to big it may spend to much time developing a new root system.
I want a Phalaenopsis orchid, what now?
I think this is the easiest question to answer, go to a shop. Any big shop, Tesco, Morrison, Waitrose or garden centres will have Phals on show.
Pick one of your liking and show it's your love and it will love you back.
Truth universal.
This native to Southern-east Asian regions orchid genus includes approximately 60 species and hundreds of hybrids, is one of the most popular orchids in trade to-date. It's also the easiest to grow and holds it's flowers for months, from personal experience I know that some hybrids can hold a single flower for more that six months.
They come in almost every possible colour, pattern, match; from pure white flowers up to 10 cm in size, by cream, peach, violet, pink, deep reds, oranges to bleached harlequins with ink like spots, kaleidoscope Phals with coloured veins creating beautiful patterns to world orchids with dot patterns, from tiny sizes to huge plants with fragrance or not, they are magnificent and beautiful. As it is hard to pass by one plant and ignore it.
Care:
They are one of the easiest plants to grow home, as long as you make sure not to over water them or leave completely bone dry. Make sure to place the pot with the plant in a lit but sunny location, depending on the zone you are in the sun may burn the leafs, causing problems in the future.
Nothern placing is only good if the orchid will receive sun in the early morning till around 11 am, then it should be moved to a slightly shaded spot.
My plants are very happy in a south window, its not shaded they receive plenty of indirect light and in the late afternoon around 4 pm, they receive a doze of some late direct sun.
Phals love misting in the evening or mornings, depending on the weather outside; don't overdo it though, they like some moisture in the air but not to be dropping wet with water droplets going down the leafs to the crown as this may cause root.
Aerial roots - what is that? You may have noticed that Phalaenopsis have these strange green or silver roots hanging outside from the pot in al directions. First of all don't think they need to be in the ground, second don't cut them until you are 100% sure this root is dead.
Since the climate the orchids grow in is much different than ours, and the roots grow in bark, moss and other dead matter gathered on the rocks and trees they developed the ability to gather the moisture from the air with their roots. So if your plant grows some roots outside the pot, that means it's in good health and you spraying it from time to time will make it very happy.
Best pot for a Phal will be a plastic transparent one, they produce special orchid pots with lots of holes on the bottom, but a good advice will be to drill some more holes on the side to help aerate the bark or whatever medium you are growing.
Coloured or clay pots will be no good as the Phalaenopsis roots photosynthesise just like leaves and like to have a visible access to the light.
Watering is quite simple, put the orchid pot to a bigger pot (best method) with water (3/4 hight) and leave the plant to have a good soak once in a week. Fertilize once monthly or once every two months with a lover dosage following the orchid fertilizer you are using.
Blooming:
These orchids are very reliable bloomers, they will bloom constantly if the plant is healthy and strong. Usually the bloom period starts in Autumn and can last till next year and the plant may send continuous streams of flowers.
When the flowering has finished, we are bored with the flowers (after few months) or we think the plant may be straining itself and using to much of it's resources we should cut the flower stem closely to the leaf.
Advice:
Sometimes we may want the orchid to bloom continuously for a long time but this may be hurtful for the plant, allow it to rest and regenerate. Never allow your orchid to bloom more than 6 - 8 months, allow it for a period of rest and growth.
Bigger pot?
When you need to re-pot the plant give it time to rest, if it's in flower sometimes it's a good idea to cut the stems especially if the flowers were on it for a long time. After you change to bigger container it will need time to adjust to a bigger pot and develop roots and build its foliage.
When re potting make sure only to go one size bigger, or just replace the medium it's currently growing. Phalaenopsis orchids like to have a snug environment and if the pot is to big it may spend to much time developing a new root system.
I want a Phalaenopsis orchid, what now?
I think this is the easiest question to answer, go to a shop. Any big shop, Tesco, Morrison, Waitrose or garden centres will have Phals on show.
Pick one of your liking and show it's your love and it will love you back.
Truth universal.
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Some pictures presented in this article may not belong to me and are a property of their respectable owners.
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