Phalaenopsis Orchids

Description

Phalaenopsis, also known as moth orchids, add color to any home or office. This elegant plant’s long stems, dainty wing-like flowers, and deep green foliage also make it the perfect gift. Phalaenopsis are low maintenance plants, so by following just a few simple rules, you can keep them flowering beautifully.

Caring for your orchids

1. Do not overwater. Orchids like to be watered, but only when they are almost dried out. Wait until the soil feels dry and the pot feels light; otherwise you may risk overwatering and rotting the roots. On average, this means you should water your orchids around once a week.
2. Keep the crown dry. The orchid’s crown – where new leaves emerge in its center – can also rot if it gets wet. If the crown does get wet, blot it with a paper towel or dry cloth.
3. Keep warm, but out of direct sunlight.
4. Orchids thrive in humid atmospheres; keep your plant away from air vents that can dry it out. To give your orchid the humidity it needs without turning your home into a greenhouse, stand the pot on a tray of pebbles and fill that tray with water. The pebbles prevent the roots from sitting in the water, but a humid zone for your orchid where it needs it most.
5. Feed your orchid high-potassium liquid orchid food to encourage flowering, either every two weeks, or according to the instructions.
6. To keep bugs away from your orchid, make some white oil at home. This isn’t poison, but it will suffocate the bugs and keep them away.
7. Only trim an orchid root or stem if it is dry and you are certain it is dead. Otherwise trimming the roots and stems can harm the plant and introduce a potentially dangerous virus.
8. When the flowers disappear, you can simply cut the step to encourage new flowers to grow.