How to Care for Phalaenopsis Orchids

Phalaenopsis Orchids can be seen for sale seemingly everywhere today: the grocery store, the florists, department stores and even home reno stores.  They make a great gift and an exotic and beautiful houseplant.  Unfortunately, many people assume that orchid care is too complicated for the average person and stay away from them or discard them once the last flower drops. Following this simple guide will help you to maintain it and even bring it back to bloom again.

Potting Medium

An orchid should be kept in a loose and well-draining medium.  Special orchid potting mixes can generally be found along with other plant potting soils or plant products.  These usually consist of things such as bark, types of wood chips, perlite, sphagnum moss and other loose, coarse and moisture retaining materials.  The orchids roots need room to breathe so it is important that this mix be coarse.

Watering

Phalaenopsis orchids should generally be watered as often as the potting mix dries out.  They should not be kept soggy.  I find that once a week is usually good but this might need adjustments between the seasons; possibly more often will be needed during the hot summer and less in the cool and dark winter. IWhile other houseplants might be watered sparingly often, these orchids should be thoroughly watered and allowed to run out the bottom, then left until they are dry to water again.  When watering make sure that you don't allow water to collect and sit in the base of the leaves as this can lead to rot.  Water can be blotted from here and then the small amount that is left should evaporate before any harm is done.

Feeding

I feed my phals once every other watering but others use the 'weakly, weekly' method (meaning they dilute the fertilizer and feed each week).  I like to water with straight water in between feedings to wash away extra fertilizer salts.  There are many fertilizers that you can buy that are directly intended for orchids.  These, too, are fairly easily found in gardening sections of department stores.

Light and Temperature

Phals are one of the best suited orchids as houseplants because of their lower light and house temperature requirements.  Any bright windowsill should suit a phal just fine.  Usually West or South facing windows are the brightest.  You may find that your phal begins to develop light yellow areas.  Move the orchid further from the window or to a less bright window as these spots indicate sunburn.  If these spots are left to develop they will turn brown and dry and you might lose that leaf. An average house temperature is all that is required for most phals- assuming that you keep your house at a comfortable temperature for your family.  Phals do like some humidity, however, which your home might not provide.  I often place a tray filled with pebbles and water underneath my plants to provide a little extra humidity.  Be sure that the plant isn't sitting in the water though as you would get root rot. I also often keep my orchids in my bathrooms as there is extra humidity in those rooms as well.

Following these simple guidelines should ensure that you are left with a happy and healthy phal that blooms many times over for you!