Phalaenopsis Care...

The Phalaenopsis (fal-uh-nop-sis), or Moth Orchid is the ideal first orchid for the beginner because it is easy to care for and re-bloom in the home.  It should, with minimal care, remain in bloom at least four to six weeks and probably longer.  They are native to the Philippines and Southeast Asia so their requirements are very comfortable to live with:

Light: Bright-diffuse light from an East or West window or a South window with a sheer curtain.  A North window may not be sufficient. Give your Phal as many hours of light as are available.

Temperature: Normal home temperatures are ideal, nighttime low temperatures of 58F to 65F and daytime high temperatures of 75F to 85F are good.  Phals will tolerate lower or higher temperatures, but will not thrive.  Lower temperatures cause the plant to go dormant and thus become more susceptible to diseases but higher temperatures can be tolerated for a short time if  there is enough humidity.

Humidity: Reccomended humidity is 50% to 70%.  If the air is drier, a pebble tray, small room humidifier or small decorative fountain will help raise the humidity around the plant.  For a pebble tray, find a waterproof flat tray of your choice, add pebbles, marbles, etc. and set the plant on the pebbles.  Keep water in the bottom of the tray without it touching the bottom of the pot.

Watering: In nature, Phalaenopsis generally grow on tree branches with their roots attached to the bark and exposed to the air.  Therefore, they will not tolerate a wet mix for very long.  It is very important to let the mix in the pot get almost completely dry before watering.  In a bark-based mix it could be a few days to two weeks depending on the size of the plant and the pot it's in, the temperature, the season, the age of the mix and the light and humidity. In a peat or moss based mix, it could be much longer as these mixes hold moisture longer.  These mixes also depend on temperature, season, etc.  In the winter (and the further north you are) the temperature and light levels are likely to be lower and due to heating in the home the humidity could be lower.  Winter time plant growth is likely to be slower, too.  In the summer the light levels and temperatures tend to be higher, the plant is likely growing and the humidity will be more variable.  All these factors need to be taken into consideration.  The best way to tell if it needs water is to "heft" the pot.  A light pot is drier and a heavy pot is still wet.  Another way is to poke a skewer or a pencil into the mix all the way to the bottom and leave it for a while.  If it's damp when you pull it, don't water, if it's dry go ahead.

Feeding: Use a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20) or one higher in Nitrogen (13-10-10) while the plant is growing in the spring and summer. You can change to a blossom booster in the fall and winter.  We fertilize every time we water with an occasional plain water flush to help prevent build-up of mineral salts. Use the fertilizer at half the strength reccommended on the package. Stern's Miracid and Stern's Miracle Grow and Peter's are good choices. 

Air Circulation: Most Phals come from islands where there are generally breezes blowing, therefore, it is important to have good air circulation around your orchids.  This will help to prevent diseases such as bacterial rot and funguses.  It dries off the surfaces of the leaves after watering which keeps the spores of the diseases from germinating.  It also prevents pockets of heat building up and stagnant air pockets.

Potting: Every one to two years the mix in the pot needs to be changed to prevent compacting and water-logging. Phals generally grow with their roots exposed to the air and a mix that stays too wet can cause them to rot.  The time to do this is in the late spring to early summer after the flowers have faded and the plant is actively growing.  Pot size is determined by the size of the root system, rather than the size of the leaves.  If the roots won't go back into the pot it came out of, move up one pot size.  Under potting is preferable to over potting.  The type of pot and mix depends on your culture.  If you are one who wants to spend lots of time with your plants, use a pot which drains readily with a mix that does the same. The choices range from a clay pot with extra drain holes and medium bark to fewer holes and finer bark. If you are one who may remember they need attention every now and then, use a plastic pot and a denser mix.  The choices can range from plastic with the standard holes and medium bark to the same pot with a peat-based or moss-based medium.

For further reading: There are a number of good books around and suggestions for this list are welcome:

YOUR FIRST ORCHIDS AND HOW TO GROW THEM by The Oregon Orchid Society, PO Box 14182, Portland, OR 97214

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