Phalaenopsis Orchids – Care for your Moth Orchid
People view an orchid as some sort of exotic, and difficult to grow plant, when they really aren’t. Orchids have traditionally been grown by specialty growers, producing flowers for the florist trade or plants for the "collector".
During the last few years more growers now produce select groups of orchids, in sufficient quantities. This commitment to grow these wonderful and attractive bloomers make these plants more available, and affordable.
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Many nurseries and garden centers now carry orchids on a regular basis. Some of this orchid "group" includes oncidiums, dendrobiums, and phalaenopsis.
As with most flowering plants orchids "show off" in their own blooming season. During the months of December through May is the season for phalaenopsis commonly known as the "moth orchid". They are beginning to hit the stores and before you go out an purchase one, we want to provide some general care information.
General
Growing a Phalaenopsis Orchid in your home can be rewarding and fun. It is particularly well suited for the conditions you already find at home. Phalaenopsis hybrids flowers range is size from 2" to nearly 5" in diameter.
Colors range includes white, pinks, lavender and yellow in both solid colors and mixes of stripes and spots. Many new a bold color pattern are beginning to show up also. Phalaenopsis flowers offer both exotic form and superb longevity. Individual blooms can last as long as 3 months. Flowers open sequentially at 2-5 day intervals along an arching spike.
Light
In the home, Phalaenopsis orchids enjoy a spot near or in a bright window. You’ll want to avoid direct mid-day sun but early morning or late afternoon sun is great. An east or west facing window is ideal. In darker or cloudy environments a shaded southern window might be best.
You can supplement normal light with fluorescent lights placed approximately 1 foot above your orchid. Time your lights to simulate normal day length. If you have a home greenhouse you should consider using a heavy shade cloth (especially during the summer) to limit light levels to 1,000 – 1,500 foot candles.
Temperature
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The ideal temperatures for the Phals range between 55 and 85 F. For ideal growing try to maintain 60 at night and between 75 and 80 during the day.
Cool night time temperatures in the fall encourage flower spike initiation. However, once the flower spike is developed, wide swings in temperature can cause unopened bud to drop off. Temperatures in excess of 90 can slow growth.
Phalaenopsis also benefit from moderate humidity levels. Ideal levels range between 50 and 75% relative humidity. In a heated home you will want to set your plants on a shallow tray filled with gravel and water. This should help to keep the humidity near your orchid at acceptable levels. Make sure that the plants roots are NOT sitting in water.
Water
Moth orchids do not like to be dry to the point of wilting. They should be watered thoroughly and then not again until the media is nearly, but not completely, dry.
How often you water will depend on the type of media your orchid is growing in and its growing environment. Once every week to 10 days is a good starting point.
In winter, with the heat on in your home, lower humidity will mean you’ll water more frequently. Don’t let your plants dry to the point of wilting – it will really set them back.
Remember to not get any water on the flowers as this will shorten their longevity.
Fertilizer
For convenience, a slow release fertilizer with equal proportions of N-P-K (14-14-14) used as directed, can work very well. If you prefer to use a liquid plant food, again with equal parts of N-P-K, apply it at recommended rate every second time you water.
During blooming season you might consider a blooming plant formula with elevated phosphorus levels (i.e. 10-30-20). During winter months you can reduce liquid fertilizer applications to once a month.
I would recommend staying away from fertilizing altogether while the plant is flowering.
Flowering
Flowers of the Phalaenopsis Orchid have superb longevity. You can often urge a second flowering from each spike with a timely pruning.
When the last flower of the spike fades, you should examine the spike, looking for small fleshy bumps or nodes. From the base of the spike count out 3 nodes (count only the green fleshy nodes – ignore any that are dried out). Cut the spike one inch above the third node.
If your plant is healthy and the season is not too late, this process will wake up one or two of the nodes and in a few short weeks it may produce a new spray of fresh blooms. By trying this you could enjoy flowers for nearly 6 months of the year on the same plant.
Re-Potting
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Phalaenopsis can live a very long time. That means you will have to know when and how to repot you plants. There are two reasons that a plant will need to be re-potted. Either it has outgrown its current container or its media has decomposed and no longer is aerated well enough to maintain health roots.
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Remove the plant from its container and let the old media fall away. Carefully trim away any old dead roots. Position the plant it its new container and pour in the new potting media, letting it settle around the roots. Use only a media for orchids that contains bark, stone, sphagnum moss, perlite or similar material that will provide the aeration your Phalaenopsis will need. Resume your normal watering and fertilizing schedule.
Many growers are using sphagum moss as their media of choice. I have seen very good results using sphagum moss, developing healthy, and vigorous root systems.
Pests
Phalaenopsis Orchids should be monitored for aphids, mealybugs, mites, scale, and slugs. These can usually be removed with a soft cloth and soapy water. If you choose to use a commercial pest control product, be sure to follow all label instructions.
There you have it, the basics to get started with Phalaenopsis.
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what causes the ridged leathery leaf on phals, can it be stopped? Even new growth seems to become leathery.
That is just their make up…
I received a phalaenopsis as a gift. The lower leaves have withered and shrunk. I’m afraid upper levels are next. Is it okay to repot it? The pot seems too small for it. Do I need to get orchid potting mix? Is it okay for it to be outside on my screened in porch for the summer? Or should I keep it inside?
my moth orchid has air roots or should they be in the mixture.
What causes the underside of the leaves on phals to have a sticky substance, during and after flowering?
I am trying to find out about nodes on the spike how can you identify them?
I have received a beautiful Phalaenopsis for mothers day and it is still flowering!
I want to keep her alive.
If you no of a sight that may have a picture of the node? I dont want to cut to far down.
Does it re bloom on the same spike?
Thanks
Lori
I just bought this Phalaenopsis Orchid and the botton or base has alot of thick roots sitting hirer than the moss, is this normal?
The roots have come out of the top of the pot and are 3-4 inches in length. Can these be cut?
Very good site, very usfull information to our plants.
I live in AZ and have a healthy green plant that had two long pretty flower spikes. Unfortunately they have croaked. Is this normal for these and how do I make sure it flowers again next year? Any info will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I purchased a phalaenopsis orchid for my girlfriend & the flowers are falling off is it because it is diening?
[...] A shaggy climber with woolly-looking oval leaves, clusters of woolly white flowers with white or orchid-colored leaf like bracts. It is used in frost-free areas as a not-too-bold garden accent, is also [...]
What are the root looking “spikes” growing out of the plant pot at the base of the plant? Truly roots? New Plant? What to do?
After my phalaenopsis had flowered I did not cut it back as there seemed to be more flowers to come on but there are now leaves coming on the flower spike, is this usual? It looks a bit strange with leaves so high up.
I received a Moth Orchid months ago as a gift. Eventually all the orchids died off. I have continued to water and care for the plant. It has grown one additional leaf and another one is just sprouting. The long stem that the original orchids hung from is still there. I trimmed back what looked to have died out, Will this plant ever bloom again? Having never tried to take care of such a plant I have no idea what to do. A florist recently to.d me throw it out just buy a new one. Mine looks very healthy to me.
I recieved a phalaeonopsis orchid inApril as a gift. It has done well until now. It just dropped all its blooms.(7-8-10). Will it bloom again? What should I do?
Thank You
What do you do with those long finger-like shoots that grow at the bottom of the plant? The ones I’m questioning, have triangular tips (somewhat like asparagus). Are they future blooms or should they be trimmed away?
I have an moth orchid that is about four years old but has only bloomed once. The leaves are beautiful and thick and dark green,and also very large. can you give me some reason why it doesn’t bloom? thank you Carole Wise
What do you do when the plant produces lots of air roots, but few flowers?
For Mother’s Day I received one of these AWESOME flowers. I have enjoyed it immensely. 2 Days ago all the flowers began to wilt and today I noticed the stem is turning brown. PLEASE HELP! I have followed the instructions that came with to the letter. I do not know if it’s flowering season is over. I would guess not because it had a new flower starting. DO I replant it?? Try watering it in between it’s normal time? Is it possible to drown it? Any help would be so appreciated. I love my Orchid and would hate to see its demise.
I received a Phalaenopsis Orchid as a gift. While I think I understand how to care for it, I was wondering if I should stake it up more. It is already staked up about 8 inches, but the blossoms are arching over another 8 or so inches. Should I use a taller pole and stake it up the rest of the way? Thanks so much!
HI. Thanks for the guidance. When I repotted a grocery store phalaenopsis, I used a double pot – one unglazed pot set inside another that serves as a water reservoir. Keeping the water level low seems to keep the medium evenly damp, but not wet. So far, so good, and it’s had constant blooms since October. Any thoughts or suggestions?
After the flowers have gone and the spike has dried, how long before a new spike and flowers develop?
I was lucky with my orchid, I had blooms from February until April. I pruned it above the third “node” after i clipped it i noticed the very end had a new shoot, is it possible for it to have another “run” of flowers. I watered it carefully, applied one ice cube to the moss, keeping it away from the plant itself, and had extremely good luck. The bright light was perfect during the morning hours. So what can I do to get bigger and more flowers?
My mother can grow most any kind of house plant, but not Moth orchids. She’s lost 2 in the last year. Within a few weeks of being finished blooming the leaves fal off one by one until there are none left.
Any ideas as to possible causes?
how long does a white Moth Orchid live for?
Hello, A friend got me a phalaenopsis orchid in QFC around October 2009 and I don’t know if it was ever repotted. It’s the first time I grow an orchid and it has bloomed very well till maybe May 2010. I thought its normal that some roots are outside the pot. I think it’s a medium bark but I am not sure. I didn’t know I need to repot immediately after flowering. Now the roots have dried up. Three out of 4 leaves are now very limp. Is the plant dying? Can I still save it? how? If I repot it now, do I lightly cover all the roots with the bark?
Thanks in advance for your input.
Cassia
I have a moth orchid and when I got it, it was beautiful and now the flowers fell off and the stems are starting to die but the leaves are growing. I want to know what is hapenning, am I not watering it enough or is it not getting enough sun or what? I feed it liquid orchid food every two weeks and dont water it till the two weeks. Please help! Thanks!!
For Lori on June 22nd -& anyone else interested. This site has a video that shows you exactly where to cut for the nodes on a Phalaenopsis orchid
http://myorchidcare.com/orchid-care/Phalaenopsis-Care.html
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