Phalaenopsis Orchid Care

The phalaenopsis orchid, otherwise known as the moth orchid is one of the most popular orchid varieties. It's easy to see why because this particular type of orchid is well suited to growing indoors. Phalaenopsis orchid care isn't as easy as one might think though. It still requires a little tender love and care just like any orchid, the positive though is that any orchid care that is specifically needed is quite easy to do. The main flowering season is late winter into spring, though commercial growers today can make flowering phalaenopsis available year round. To make sure your phalaenopsis orchid continues to flower utilize the following tips:

LightingnA good amount of light is essential for healthy growth and to make sure your flowers bloom. Provide a good amount of light but NOT direct sunlight, this can severely harm your orchid. You can tell if your phalaenopsis orchid is getting the right light care by looking at its leaves. They should be a medium olive green. If your leaves are dark green or limp then the orchid is receiving too little light and you will need to give it a little more.

Temperature
To correctly care for your phalaenopsis orchid, you will need to ensure the right temperature. Generally a mature plant will need between 15 to 20 F difference between night and day. Again you can check the leaves for this but as a rule of thumb room temperature is ok, just avoid extreme hot or cold areas of the home.

WateringnA mature phalaenopsis orchid will not need drying out between watering, but that doesn't mean that you can over water. Give the flower a good soaking first but then leave it for a few days without watering. This is important because it simulates the plants natural environment.

Fertilizing
Fertilizer for your phalaenopsis orchid must be provided on a regular basis because most potting media have very little nutrients. Provide the exact fertilizer you use will depend on the mix in which your plant is growing. A good general rule is to use a balanced (10-10-10, 12-12-12 or similar ratio) fertilizer "weakly, weekly." That is, fertilize every week at one quarter to one half of the recommended dilution.