Is the Phalaenopsis easy to grow? A detailed guide to cultivation methods and precautions

Phalaenopsis is a very beautiful and elegant flowering plant. Most people who have seen a Phalaenopsis feel the urge to take one home and grow it. But people are very rational creatures; even if you like them, if you cannot take good care of them, it is a harm to both sides. So whether Phalaenopsis is easy to grow has become a question everyone wants to understand.

How to grow Phalaenopsis

1. Temperature

Phalaenopsis is native to the tropics and likes a high-temperature, high-humidity environment. The Phalaenopsis in flower markets are all grown in greenhouses with high temperature and high humidity, so the temperature of a Phalaenopsis brought home is best kept between 15-27. Pay special attention to sudden temperature drops at night, and do not let the Phalaenopsis stay in an environment below 13 degrees for too long, especially when it has just been bought home.

2. Water

In its place of origin, Phalaenopsis mostly grows on tree trunks, with its roots exposed to the air and absorbing moisture from the air. The roots of the Phalaenopsis we see now are all buried in soil, with much poorer aeration, so once there is too much water in the soil, the Phalaenopsis is very prone to root rot. Therefore: when watering Phalaenopsis, follow the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet. Water again once the soil surface feels completely dry and has turned white. For Phalaenopsis grown in sphagnum moss, watering once or twice a month is enough. When watering, water thoroughly until water flows out of the bottom of the pot. In winter, it is suitable to water at warmer noon, keeping the water temperature close to room temperature. In addition, indoor air in the north is relatively dry, so when watering you can also use a spray bottle to mist the leaves and the surrounding area to raise humidity, but be careful not to spray water onto the flowers, otherwise the flowers will rot at the center.

3. Fertilizing

Phalaenopsis likes fertilizer and basically needs fertilizing all year round, unless the temperature is below 10 degrees or above 32 degrees and it enters a dormant period. In autumn and winter, when Phalaenopsis is budding or blooming, fertilizing should use a light phosphorus-potassium fertilizer, and nitrogen fertilizer must not be applied. Gardeners can use a special Phalaenopsis fertilizer or potassium dihydrogen phosphate every 2-3 weeks, at a ratio of fertilizer:water = 1:1500 or 1:2000, spraying the leaves or the soil surface. The best time to fertilize is in the afternoon after watering. Spring and summer are the growing season for Phalaenopsis, so a thin compound fertilizer (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus) can be applied once every 7-10 days; organic fertilizer is even better.

From the above cultivation methods, it can be seen that Phalaenopsis is a plant that is not very difficult to grow. As long as you follow the methods, you can grow it fairly well.

Cultivation methods and precautions for Phalaenopsis

1. Soil

1. Phalaenopsis has relatively high requirements for soil. The soil suitable for growth needs to be breathable, rot-resistant, and slightly acidic.

2. You can choose to mix pine needles, peanut shells, bark strips, and clay balls as the soil substrate, or you can directly buy special Phalaenopsis growing soil at a flower market.

2. Ventilation

Phalaenopsis also needs flowing fresh air to ensure normal growth, so make sure the growing environment has good ventilation.

3. Precautions

1. Some friends always worry that Phalaenopsis lacks water, and water it every day regardless of whether the growing medium is dry, causing severe root rot. Although water is the source of life, soaking in water all day will still make it swell up!

2. Some friends apply fertilizer whenever they have it, and do not pay attention to the concentration, thinking that fertilizing will make it grow faster. You should know that Phalaenopsis should be given light fertilizer, in small amounts and many times. Remember that “tonic feeding” must not be excessive, otherwise it will backfire.

3. Some friends think that using a large pot can give the Phalaenopsis a spacious environment and sufficient material. In fact, after using a large pot, the sphagnum moss is not easy to dry. You should know that Phalaenopsis likes ventilation, and when air flows freely it feels comfortable.

When does Phalaenopsis bloom

Generally speaking, Phalaenopsis will only bloom after being grown for 3 years. Phalaenopsis blooms once or twice a year, usually around the Spring Festival, and the ornamental period can last as long as 2 months to 3 months.

After the flowers wither, the faded flowers must be cut off as early as possible, as this can reduce the consumption of nutrients. Cut the flower stem from the base at the 4th to 5th node, and it can bloom again after 2 months to 3 months. However, in a home growing environment, it often can only bloom once a year.

Growth habits of Phalaenopsis

Because Phalaenopsis is native to tropical rainforest regions, it likes to grow in warm climates and is not cold-tolerant. The most suitable growing temperature is around 15-20°C. In winter, when it is below 10°C, growth will stop, and below 5°C can lead to death.

Phalaenopsis has a physiological structure that protects itself from the effects of stress in low-humidity environments, but in an overly humid high-temperature environment it is prone to disease, so to keep Phalaenopsis growing healthily, suitable humidity should also be maintained.

Although Phalaenopsis gives people a very delicate impression from its name, the real Phalaenopsis is not actually delicate, and it is not very picky about many elements of its living environment. When planting it, we only need to master some basic principles and we can basically grow Phalaenopsis well.