Phalaenopsis Orchid Care Tips

Botanical Name: Phalaenopsis species and hybrids

Worried about phalaenopsis orchid care? Don't be. The popular Phalaenopsis (aka Moth Orchid), is often called the "beginner's orchid" because of its tolerance to average room conditions.

With a few simple tips for growing orchids indoors, you'll have a gorgeous flowering plant that's in bloom for months in late winter and spring.

Beautiful and exotic orchids were once considered to be only for the expert greenhouse gardener. More widely available varieties and new hybrids have changed all that.

There are tens of thousands of varieties available...and their sizes, shapes, and colors vary greatly.

Each long, arching flower stem produces several flat-petaled blooms that open in succession from the bottom of the stem to the top. Blooms are available in pink, purple, white, red, or yellow, sometimes with spots, and often with contrasting lip and veins.

You can count on them to bloom year after year if you meet the needs for phalaenopsis orchid care: high humidity, bright light, moist-but-not-soggy soil, and fertilizing. It's work, yes -- but the results are oh-so worth it.

After-Flowering Phalaenopsis Orchid Care

To repot...or not. Repotting orchid is necessary every couple years because the fine-grade fir bark they grow in will decompose. The best time to repot is in the spring, immediately after flowering.

After the bloom. Once all the flowers have faded, cut off the flower stem about 1 inch from the base. Use sharp pruners to avoid tearing the stem, and cut at an angle. Removing the stem will encourage your moth orchid to flower again the following season.

Origin: Tropical Asia

Height: 1-2 ft (30-60 cm)

Light: Bright light. No direct sun. If you don't have enough light near a window, you can put Phalaenopsis under fluorescent lights. Place the plant 6-12 in (15-30 cm) beneath the light fixture for 12 to 16 hours a day.

Water: Water the mix thoroughly, then allow the top inch to dry out between waterings. Do not let the soil get soggy because it causes root rot.

Humidity: High humidity is a must -- 60-80 percent humidity is ideal. Mist leaves every morning and set pot on a tray of wet pebbles.

Temperature: 60-65°F/16-18°C nights and 75-80°F/24-27°C days

Soil: Orchid potting mix, or finely ground fir bark.

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks spring through fall with an orchid fertilizer diluted by half. Do not feed in winter.

Propagation: Divide the mature plant when it becomes crowded in its pot. It's best to do this in the spring, immediately after blooming.