How do you care for a newly bought Phalaenopsis so that it blooms?
Orchids have enjoyed a high “status” in our country since ancient times, and the variety of orchids in the world is also very rich. Today let's talk about how to care for the Phalaenopsis in the orchid family so that it blooms? I think this question is also of great concern to friends who have just bought a Phalaenopsis!
1. Basic facts about the Phalaenopsis
1. Origin of the Phalaenopsis: The Phalaenopsis is an epiphytic orchid native to the subtropical rainforest regions. Its flowers look like butterflies dancing gracefully, with a very beautiful posture, and for this reason it is much loved by orchid enthusiasts; it is now also available for purchase in many markets. In addition, the Phalaenopsis is fairly widely distributed in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and other regions.
2. Appearance of the Phalaenopsis: The leaf sheaths of the Phalaenopsis often wrap around a short stem, and the leaves are somewhat fleshy, oval or oblong; the upper side of the leaf is green, while the underside is purple; the flowering period of the Phalaenopsis is relatively long, basically from April to June.
2. How do you care for a Phalaenopsis so that it blooms?
Getting a newly bought Phalaenopsis to bloom is actually not difficult. As long as your care method is right, you need not fear that it will not bloom, so below we will teach you how to care for a Phalaenopsis so that it produces beautiful flowers.
1. Give the Phalaenopsis reasonable light: As a plant, the Phalaenopsis 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 that the leaves are not scorched by the fierce sun.
2. Give the Phalaenopsis good ventilation conditions: The Phalaenopsis is a plant that, besides absorbing nutrients from the soil and through photosynthesis, can also absorb nutrients from the air, so the environment where the Phalaenopsis is placed must have circulating air.
3. Give the Phalaenopsis reasonable watering: There is no fixed rule for watering the Phalaenopsis; 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 it is relatively moist, do not water it.
4. Fertilize the Phalaenopsis reasonably: If you want the Phalaenopsis 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 every five days to one week, and in autumn and winter, fertilize once a month.
5. Give the Phalaenopsis suitable temperature and humidity: You should know that, besides doing the above well, temperature is also an important part of whether the Phalaenopsis blooms. Generally the growing humidity for the Phalaenopsis is around 70%, and the humidity at night is higher than during the day; the daytime growing temperature for the Phalaenopsis is 26-27 degrees, and at night it is 20-23 degrees. Only in this way can the Phalaenopsis produce beautiful flowers,
6. After the Phalaenopsis blooms: After the Phalaenopsis blooms, it should be pruned in time, so that next year it can again produce 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 it in time and reduce watering; when overwintering, place it in an environment with a temperature above 10 degrees.
7. Pest and disease control for the Phalaenopsis: Common pests and diseases of the Phalaenopsis include soft rot, brown spot disease, viral disease, scale insects, red spiders, and so on. They should be discovered early and treated early; in addition, just ensure ventilation and do not let the air humidity become too high.
Basically, as long as you do the points mentioned above well, even a newly bought one can be grown into a Phalaenopsis with a pot full of blooms!