- Author: Trisha E Rose
Published on: January 7, 2019
Spent this past Saturday at the Master Gardener table in the weekly Vallejo Farmer's Market. Not a great day with so much smoke in the air from the horrific fires north of us. The smoky air kept the visitor numbers on the low side. But maybe because of this, we could see many of the visitors carrying brightly colored Moth Orchids with flowers looking like jewels held high floating up and down Georgia Street. These orchids are formally known as Phalaenopsis and make a great dramatic addition to an indoor space. This is the only plant I keep inside all year round.
I have been buying these orchids for years myself as they are really a good bang for your buck. The flowering plants will literally bloom for months, I am not kidding. For me, they bloom at least 3 months, and generally, they hold their blooms closer to 6 months or longer.
Mine are placed next to a northwest window that receives very bright light but no direct sun. I keep a sprayer for misting the plants generally in the morning especially with the low humidity days we have been experiencing. My plants will tell me they need moisture when their leaves look droopy. I do drench the pots in my kitchen sink once a month with lukewarm water.
Here is what the American Orchid Society has to say about Phalaenopsis care in the home.
These plants grow easily in a bright window with little to no sun. An east facing window is best. They like temperatures of 60 degrees at night and day times with 75-85 degrees. Higher temperatures may force vegetative growth. They need 3-4 weeks of 55-60 degrees at night in the fall to initiate flower spikes. Fluctuating temperatures can cause buds to drop. Watering is critical with humidity kept between 50-80% with air movement. Misting and watering is best done early in the day which allows the leaves to dry out. You can place the pots on a tray of pebbles with a small amount of water which will help increase the humidity, just don't let the pot sit in water but rather on top of the pebbles.
Fertilizer can be given in warmer months 2 times a month using a high nitrogen 30-10-10 with a bark-based soil medium, other soil types do well with a balanced fertilizer. When flowering, a higher phosphorus fertilizer 10-30-20 will promote blooming.
Repotting is best done in spring immediately after flowering with a porous mix every 1-3 years. Avoid root rot by avoiding soggy soil medium. Remove all the old soil medium, trim any soft or rotten roots. Place the orchid over a handful of fresh medium in a new clean pot, then add in more fresh medium around the remaining roots up to the flower spike so the stem is now sitting on top of the medium.
The leaf structure is fleshy, almost succulent-like, with an elongated oval shape placed alternately around the thick stem.
There is no dormant period so year-round care is necessary. These orchids do not like drafts, soggy bottoms, or cold water. They may develop soft leaves if the plant is sitting in too much shade. If it blooms they will be short-lived.
Given all that I have said here, these plants are really easy to care for and are beautifully dramatic so choose your bloom color knowing it will be with you for months at a time.
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