Can Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) be grown in water? Care after the flowers fade to make them bloom a second time

Phalaenopsis, also known as the moth orchid, is a perennial herbaceous plant commonly found in the subtropical rainforest regions of China, and it is deeply loved by people because its flowers look like butterflies. Many people like to grow it indoors to enhance the indoor effect, so can Phalaenopsis be grown in water? How to grow it? How to care for it after the flowers fade so it blooms a second time?

Yes, it can be grown in water, and like pothos it is very easy to grow. The specific method is as follows:

1. Clean the roots

To clean the roots of the Phalaenopsis, use clean water and wash off the old roots and rotten roots on the roots. If conditions allow, you can spray or soak the roots with a disinfecting agent to prevent residual bacteria from harming the other healthy roots. After disinfecting, set the plant aside to dry first.

2. Choose a container

Phalaenopsis sprouts quickly during its growing period, so the best time for water culture is in April. The cleaned Phalaenopsis should be grown in water in the chosen container. It is best to choose a transparent glass container for cultivation; not only can you observe the growth of the Phalaenopsis roots at any time, but it also increases light transmission and speeds up root growth, making the roots grow more attractively.

3. Secure the plant

When you put the dried plant into the prepared container, you will encounter the situation where the plant cannot be secured. What should you do then? What solutions are there?

(1) If the size of the Phalaenopsis matches the proportions of the container, no other securing measures are needed, because the leaves of the Phalaenopsis have enough supporting ability.

(2) If the Phalaenopsis plant is much smaller than the container, then you need to use something else to secure the plant. You can choose a planting basket that fits the container specifications at the shop that sells containers, or you can use small tools from home to secure it, such as wire or bamboo sticks. Choose a branch of appropriate thickness and weave it upward around the plant starting from the roots, then hook it onto the rim of the container to secure it. The winding route can be whatever you like; there is no specific winding method.

4. Points to note

(1) Temperature. In winter the temperature is relatively low, so you must control the humidity in the air. If the plant's roots have already grown out in the water, under low-temperature conditions they are very prone to rotting.

(2) Cleaning. After growing in water for a period of time, you will find that moss grows on the walls of the container and on the roots, so it must be cleaned off regularly.

Method for a second bloom:

Treatment method: 1. Prune at the flower stem

(1) After the Phalaenopsis you are growing yourself has finished blooming, you can prune the flower stem of the Phalaenopsis at the 4th to 5th node counting from the base.

(2) After pruning, continue growing the Phalaenopsis, and in the months after growing it, the Phalaenopsis can continue to bloom.

(3) Maintain soil moisture.

Pros and cons of method one: Pruning the Phalaenopsis is actually to allow the Phalaenopsis to bloom twice in a row within one year, but the drawback is that this causes overall damage to the Phalaenopsis. Possibly by next year, the flowering of the Phalaenopsis will be reduced considerably.

2. Prune at the base

(1) Prune at the base of the flower stem of the Phalaenopsis.

(2) After pruning, grow it according to the normal cultivation method.

(3) Ensure the soil is moist and prevent waterlogging.