Orchids: A Gentle Intro

Plant Care Orchid: A definitive guide.

If this is your first Orchid adventure, I'd start with...

Orchid Variety: Genus - PHALAENOPSIS

* Year long blooming season and will re-flower from the same stem several times.
* An ideal houseplant for warm rooms.
* Long lasting flowers in a wide range of colors and patterns, large, rounded flowers giving it its common name "Moth Orchid".

PHALAENOPSIS DAILY CARE
This is probably the most popular orchids grown as houseplants and are often called 'Moth Orchids' or 'Phalaenopsis'. These are particularly well suited to the indoors because they can tolerate the dry heat created by modern central heating, in addition, they are almost continually blooming.
Unlike other orchids, they don't have bulbs, instead they grow with fleshy leaves, with new ones formed from the central crown. They produce aerial roots that drape over the sides of their pots as well as taking root directly in the bark compost.

Phalaenopsis will continue to bloom for many months at a time if are cared for in a warm room away from direct sunlight light.
They should be watered sparingly, allowing their pots to drain well. Water every 1-2 weeks depending on the temperature of the room.
Care should be taken not to over water and specifically, don't let water pool in the center.

Phalaenopsis Orchids will continue to bud from the end of the stem and the flowers will gradually open in succession, producing a continuous and attractive display of growth.
The main stem will continue to produce eyes or nodes.
Before all the flowers die off and whilst the sap is still rising, carefully cut the stem clean off above the highest eye or node but before the lowest flowering bud.
If you delay this until all of the flowers have died off, the actual stem itself will begin to die off as well.

The remaining node on the trimmed stem will then soon start to produce a side branch with more flower buds. When these have all flowered, repeat by cutting above the next node down the main stem and so on.
When the base of the stem is reached or if the orchid fails to re-bloom, cut the main stem off at the base. Occasionally a new plant (keiki) may grow from the stem, allow this to grow to a strong size with a few leaves and roots and then gently remove and pot up in fine bark.

TEMPERATURE:
Moth Orchids or PhalaenopsisPhalaenopsis grow happily in the warmth of most modern homes, but try to keep a daytime maximum of 30°C(85°F) and a minimum temperature of 18°C (65°F) on winter nights.

LIGHTING CONDITIONS:
Shelter from direct, bright summer sun which can scorch the leaves. Try to expose them to as much daylight as possible over the long winter months.

WATERING:
Never over water. Try to ensure that the bark compost remains moist all the year round. When watering, remove the orchid from it's pot or saucer, let the water drain through before placing it back in it's planter. Never let the pot stand in water.
Allow the bark compost to dry out slightly before watering again. Try to avoid water collecting in the crown of the plant as this may result in the plant rotting.
You should add a little orchid fertilizer to the water once every 2 or 3 (approx. every 10-14 days) waterings all year round.

Click here for more information: Orchid Care


As ever,
Good Luck!

Steve