Moth Orchid Care,
Learn How Easy It Is
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Do you have a knack for being with moths? Most people would say, "no way". Yet, the moth orchid or Phalaenopsis orchid care that I am talking about are the ones that sway nicely in the breeze and some of the newer hybrids even have a nice fragrance. These moth orchids are easy to care for, grown especially for the beginner. These moth orchids are found very frequently in gardens. These are the Phalaenopsis orchids. Phalaenopsis or moth orchids are some of the easiest orchids to care for in a home. Their blooms can last up to 3 months and they are some of the most colorful hybrids. Like other orchids, Phalaenopsis orchids require light, water, temperature, fertilizer and humidity. The best light is indirect light. It can be bright but should not be direct sunlight. If you have a west facing window sill this will do just fine. Direct sun for very long can damage the leaves of the moth orchid. Light is very important for orchid care. Humidity is needed for the most orchids. Some actually grow in the wild in humid rain forests. In the warm months it would be nice to mist them every day or two. They also enjoy a bright bathroom. If humidity is a problem for your moth orchid care consider a humidity tray. Let's look at the temperatures that Phals. prefer to grow in and where they thrive. They are considered an intermediate temperature orchid. This means they like temperatures from 55 (13 C.)to 75 or 80 F.degrees (24 to 27 C.). It is important in the care of Phalaenopsis in order to encourage them to initiate a flower spike for there to be a temperature gradient of 10 to 15 degrees for at least 14 days in the fall. This helps stimulate growth of the flower spike. Moth orchids have no pseudobulbs to store water and for this reason they should not completely dry out. It is fine line to let them nearly dry out and at this point water them. You should be able to tell by seeing how light the weight of the plant and pot is before you water it. Another way is stick your finger tip (or a wooden pencil) down about an inch into the plant and it should feel almost dry. It is at this point you should water. Let the water run through the plant (in the top and out the bottom) for about 30 seconds. It is important that any orchid plant root does not sit in water because it will get root rot.Phalaenopsos orchids are somewhat prone to root rot. It is also important not to let water stay in the crown of the plant for a long time. They are also prone to crown rot. You can avoid this by watering early in the day. Or you can use a paper towel or cotton swab to absorb the water. Fertilize the plant twice a month with a weak fertilizer solution. It is recommended to cut amount of fertilizer recommended by one half or one quarter. Fertilize about every other week with a balanced fertilizer (20-20-20)except durng the summer months of growth when you can use a high nitrogen fertilizer (30-10-10). The Phalaenopsis orchid is really pretty easy to grow and this is an easy group to start with for the beginning orchid grower. I encourage you to try these lovely orchids. They are elegant and graceful plants whose flowers can last up to 3 months.
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