Indoor Cultivation Methods and Key Technical Points for Phalaenopsis Orchids

If the flowering Phalaenopsis orchid is planted in an ordinary pot, a porous pot is generally preferred; for better air circulation, a shallow pot should be used, ideally with a height less than its diameter. It can also be planted in a basket woven from wooden strips or metal wire, and tied to the branches of a tree or the stems of a tree fern.

Usually, half a pot of broken tiles is placed in the flower pot to aid drainage. If a hanging basket is used, a thin layer of sphagnum moss must be spread at the bottom of the basket to prevent the potting soil from washing out through the gaps between the wooden strips or the mesh. Generally speaking, Phalaenopsis orchids need to be repotted once a year. When the plant's root system begins to regrow (usually in spring), that is the most suitable time for repotting. Using sphagnum moss as the growing medium lasts for one year, so repotting is needed once a year. Whether potting up or repotting, newly potted plants must not be watered immediately.

During the first three to four weeks, usually only a daily spraying of the leaves is needed. Repotting is very important in the cultivation and management of Phalaenopsis orchids; otherwise, as the growing medium ages and the sphagnum moss rots, air permeability will deteriorate, causing the roots to grow outside the pot, and in severe cases leading to root rot, a serious decline in plant vigor, or even death. During cultivation, if individual plants are found to be losing vigor, or if the potting medium has rotted and become impermeable to air, repotting can also be carried out at any time to restore their growth vigor.

Phalaenopsis orchids generally need a stable, warm and humid environment all year round, even during their brief dormant period. The most suitable temperatures are 25°C to 28°C during the day and 18°C to 20°C at night. Special attention should be paid to the fact that Phalaenopsis orchids are very sensitive to low temperatures and stop growing when kept at 15°C for an extended period.

Below 15°C, Phalaenopsis orchids stop absorbing water, which leads to physiological water deficiency in the plant itself, causing the leaves to turn yellow and drop; if this continues longer, all the leaves on the plant will drop off and the plant will die. Because the native habitat of Phalaenopsis orchids has relatively high humidity, the humidity in the place where they are cultivated should generally be maintained at 70% to 80% all year round. The leaves can be sprayed with water once a day; when spraying, it is best to use a fine mist and not let water droplets remain on the leaves of the Phalaenopsis orchid. If water remains on a leaf overnight, black spots will appear at that spot.

Secondly, Phalaenopsis orchids prefer a well-ventilated environment and are averse to stuffy heat. Poor ventilation easily causes rot, which in turn weakens seedling growth and leads to disease. Phalaenopsis orchids need bright, diffused light all year round, and strong direct light should generally be avoided.