How to Care for a Newly Bought Phalaenopsis Orchid? A Detailed Guide to Care Methods

The Phalaenopsis orchid is a common flowering houseplant, named for its flowers that look like butterflies, but to grow Phalaenopsis well, you need to master certain techniques, especially for one just brought home. So how do you care for a newly bought Phalaenopsis orchid?

1. Light requirements

As a plant, the Phalaenopsis orchid also needs to produce the nutrients it requires through photosynthesis, so a newly bought Phalaenopsis should be placed in a spot with good light conditions; in addition, during the summer when the Phalaenopsis grows vigorously, be careful to shade it from the sun or move it to a cool spot indoors, so the leaves do not get scorched by the fierce sun.

2. Ventilation requirements

The Phalaenopsis orchid is a plant that, besides absorbing nutrients from the soil and through photosynthesis, can also absorb nutrients from the air, so the environment where it is placed must have circulating air.

3. Water requirements

There are no rigid rules for watering a Phalaenopsis orchid; it mainly depends on how dry or moist the inside of the pot is. If the whole flower pot feels lighter in your hand than when you bought it, you can water it; if the bottom of the pot feels dry to the touch and there is no moisture on the side walls of the pot, then it is time to water it; if you are not sure about these judgments, you can also insert a toothpick into the pot for about ten minutes and check how dry or moist the toothpick is. If it is dry, water it; if the humidity is relatively high, do not water.

4. Fertilizer requirements

If you want the Phalaenopsis orchid to bloom early, fertilizer is indispensable. Generally, you can use special orchid fertilizer or potassium dihydrogen phosphate, etc. During the peak growing season, apply fertilizer once every five days to one week, and in autumn and winter, fertilize once a month.

5. Humidity requirements

You should know that besides doing all of the above well, temperature is also an important part of whether the Phalaenopsis orchid blooms. Generally, the growing humidity for Phalaenopsis is around 70%, and the humidity at night is higher than during the day.

6. Temperature requirements

The daytime growing temperature for Phalaenopsis is 26-27 degrees, and at night it is 20-23 degrees; only then can the Phalaenopsis bloom with beautiful flowers,

7. Post-blooming care

After the Phalaenopsis orchid blooms, prune it promptly, so that next year it can bloom again with a pot of beautiful flowers. When pruning, cut the flower stem from its base, and excess branches and leaves can also be cut off. In addition, repot promptly and reduce watering; for overwintering, place it in an environment with a temperature above 10 degrees.

8. Pest and disease control

Common pests and diseases of the Phalaenopsis orchid include soft rot, brown spot, viral disease, scale insects, red spider mites, and so on. They should be discovered early and treated early; in addition, ensure ventilation and do not let the air humidity get too high.