Orchid Care & Growing

How to Care for your Phalaenopsis Orchid

This orchid is well suited for growing in the home, and with a little care, the orchid plant will bloom for months. Because of the relative ease of care, the spectacular Phalaenopsis Orchid is a favorite as a gift or for your home or office.

WATER

• Plants should be watered about every 7 to 10 days, or when it starts to feel dry.
• Run tepid water through the pot letting it run out of the bottom.
• Water early in the morning to allow the leaves and crown to dry out by the evening.
• Never allow plant to stand in water or allow water to accumulate in the crown of the plant to avoid disease.

FEEDING

• Fertilize using a complete fertilizer, such as Grow More 20-10-20. Mix at a rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. (Try keeping a container of food, premixed to make it easier).
• Fertilize on a regular basis about every other watering during the summer months and every third watering during the winter months.

LIGHT and TEMPERATURE

• Plants grow best near bright windows, with no direct sunlight.
• Most ideal is an east facing window, or a shaded south or west exposure.
• Temperatures should range between 70 to 85 degrees F during the day and be above 60 degrees F at night. Generally, if you're comfortable, then the plant is comfortable also.
• When the plant is in bloom, it is fine to display in a prominent spot with indirect light.

HUMIDITY AND CIRCULATION

• If needed, provide good humidity by placing the plant on a bed of small rocks, filled with water.
• The leaves, (not the flowers) can also be misted.
• Provide some air movement if possible.

PROLONGING BLOOMS

• A flower spike will continue to bloom for up to 2 to 3 months.
• After the flowers fade, cut the spike just above the third node from the base, and a flowering offshoot may reform in about 2 months.

REPOTTING

• Repot in the milder months of spring or early summer after blooming season, using an orchid bark mix.
• Select the pot size according to the root mass, not the top size.