The phalaenopsis orchid is a flower that is said to require a lot of care. However, if you know the right gestures and basic tips, you’ll be sure to have a beautiful flower for a long time. And the truth is that these flowers are so pretty that we doubt you have just one!
How are these magnificent floral beauties maintained? Here are all our maintenance tips to take care of your precious phalaenopsis orchids without breaking your head either.
With these few tips, you can find that you have beautiful houseplants and achieve magnificent flowers. You see: with these tips, orchid maintenance is not reserved only for the most professional and experienced gardeners!
1) Choose the location of the orchid with choice
The ideal temperature for an orchid is between 18 and 21°. It likes humidity but should avoid sources of dry heat such as fireplaces or even radiators and also protect it from drafts.
Find a bright corner, but one that is not in direct contact with the sun’s rays. Direct light can burn your leaves. Avoid direct sunlight! If the windows are veiled, this may be appropriate. In winter, leave the orchid near a window so that it has as much light as possible, even if that means moving it later.
In fact, lightning is not dangerous for the orchid this season and being near a window will prevent it from running out of light. Little tip: an orchid that lacks light produces longer and narrower leaves!
2) What about the bottle?
Prefer a clear plastic pot. In fact, the transparent pot will allow you to control its roots, which is a great advantage for growing orchids. Then you can add a cache-pot if you want! Clay balls are also always a plus for any plant, and especially for beautiful flowers.
3) Water the orchid
Don’t give him hard water (like tap water), he won’t stand it. Prefer rainwater or mineral water at room temperature. As long as you have non-calcareous water, you will be fine. One clue that lets you know if watering is necessary is to look at the roots: if they are green, that’s fine! If they are grayish or the green loses its shine, it is necessary to water.
A flowering orchid is watered every 8 to 10 days when it is in bloom, every 15 to 20 days or so once it has deflowered. Know that if it’s warmer, you’ll probably water more. Do not leave standing water in the dish and wait for the soil to dry out between two waterings.
Otherwise, there is a risk of root rot. So, place the pot in a bowl of water for a few minutes and then drain it well. A few drops of lemon will attract these acidic plants and can counteract the effects of limescale.
4) Orchid Fertilizers
It should not be abused and it would even be wise to put half of it! A fertilizer high in potassium will be good for flower growth and a nitrogen fertilizer will be good for leaves.
5) Repot
This operation is carried out every two years with a larger pot with a maximum diameter of one centimeter so that the orchid is tight. After transplanting, check that the orchid does not move when you shake the pot. A homogeneous mixture of thin pine bark (processed for a day in aliette to eliminate mites and fungi), dried or fresh sphagnum moss and polystyrene pellets can be used as a substrate.
Be careful not to break its roots when transplanting an orchid!
6) Defloration
It is necessary to wait until there are no flowers left before acting. Cut the flower stems below the first flower, making sure to cut above the node from which the new flower stem will start. Then place everything in a vase filled with rainwater to which you have added a few drops of lemon juice and fertilizer. After cutting, place the orchid in a cooler place (around 15° and 13° minimum) for a few days.
The outbreak can be long. You have to be very patient. Sometimes it takes weeks, months… even years!