Phalaenopsis orchid plants are among the favorite orchids for a great amount of orchid growers because they can easily be cared for in a proper way. Moreover, their wonderful blooming can last up to three months and they use to bloom at least twice a year.
Nonetheless, there are some guidelines that we should bear in mind in order to keep our phalaenopsis orchid wealthy and in good shape.
There are approximately 60 different phalaenopsis species, from the white phalaenopsis orchid – also known as “moth orchid” – to the phalaenopsis violacea, the phalaenopsis equestris or the phalaenopsis amabilis among ohers. Although all these species have specific characteristics, the general guidelines for a right care should be valid for every phalaenopsis orchid. Phalaenopsis are usually called phal orchids among growers.
Some Phalaenopsis orchid care instructions regarding Light, Temperature, Humidity and Water Requirements:
Imagine your beautiful phalaenopsis orchid thriving in its natural habitat, clinging to a tree bark in the dense tropical forest of Malaysia or Indonesia. These are the best conditions for the phalaenopsis orchid. However, phalaenopsis have a very noticeable capacity for adapting itself to cooler and dryer conditions. It is therefore that, among the different types of orchids, this specific orchid plant is one of the easiest to grow satisfactorily.
Bearing all this in mind, we can see how our phalaenopsis orchid thrives in relatively humid conditions (60 – 70%) and with shady light. Phalaenopsis, unlike other orchid species like oncidium orchids, do not like to be exposed to the direct sunlight. The other advantage of this characteristic is that phalaenopsis can also easily grow very well indoors. In this case, the light source should be placed about a meter from the plant at least. Another solution is placing our phalaenopsis orchid near the eastern or southern window of our home.
Regarding temperature, Phalaenopsis orchids are happy in warm conditions, that is, from about 20 to 35 degrees Celsius, but they can adapt to cooler temperatures. However, it is not advisable to expose our phalaenopsis orchid under a termperature of 15 or 14 degrees Celsius.
As for water, one or twice a week is usually enough for our phalaenopsis orchid. In case of a temperature below 19 C, your phalaenopsis should be watered only once a week, otherwise there could be a risk of root rot. At any rate, it is important to make sure that the orchid media is always damp, although it must have a good drainage, too.
To know more about Phalaenopsis and other Orchids specimens, I recommend the reading of the ebook Growing Orchids Indoors and Outdoors.
