How to grow Phalaenopsis orchids? A detailed guide to cultivating precious orchid species
1. Temperature
When growing Phalaenopsis at home, temperature is the first thing to ensure. Phalaenopsis likes a high-temperature, high-humidity environment. During the growing period, the minimum temperature should be kept above 15°C, and the suitable growing temperature for Phalaenopsis is 16-30°C. In autumn and winter and at the turn of winter and spring, as well as when winter temperatures are low, attention should be paid to raising the temperature. Generally, in rooms with heating equipment in winter, this temperature is not difficult to reach, but note that you should not place the flower directly on the radiator or too close to it.
When summer temperatures are on the high side, cooling is needed, and attention should be paid to ventilation. If the temperature is above 32°C, Phalaenopsis usually enters a semi-dormant state, and continuous high temperatures should be avoided. Around the Spring Festival is the peak flowering period; appropriately lowering the temperature can prolong the viewing time. When flowering, the nighttime temperature is best controlled between 13-16°C, but must not be lower than 13°C.
2. Humidity
Phalaenopsis originates from primeval forests, where there is a lot of mist and the temperature is relatively high. Phalaenopsis does not have thick, large pseudobulbs to store nutrients. If the humidity in the air is insufficient, the leaf surface becomes wrinkled and weak. Therefore, Phalaenopsis should be cultivated and cared for in a ventilated, high-humidity environment.
The suitable growing air humidity for Phalaenopsis is 60%-80%. During the vigorous elongation period of new roots, water more; during the dormant period after flowering, water less. In spring and autumn, water once a day around five in the afternoon. In summer, when the plant grows vigorously, water once each at nine in the morning and five in the afternoon. In winter, when light is weak and the temperature is low, watering once every other week is enough, and it is best done before ten in the morning. If a cold wave arrives, do not water; keep it dry, and resume watering after the cold wave passes.
The principle of watering is to water when dry and let it dry between waterings. When the surface of the growing medium becomes dry, water thoroughly again, and the water temperature should be close to room temperature. When the indoor air is dry, you can use a sprayer to spray directly onto the leaf surface; it is enough for the leaf surface to become moist, but note that when spraying during the flowering period, do not spray water mist onto the flowers. Tap water should be stored for more than 72 hours before use for watering.
3. Light
Although Phalaenopsis prefers shade, the orchid plant still needs to receive some light, especially before and after the flowering period. Appropriate light can promote flowering in Phalaenopsis and make the flowers more brilliant and long-lasting. Generally, it should be placed in a spot indoors with scattered light, and direct sunlight should not be allowed.
4. Ventilation
The normal growth of Phalaenopsis requires flowing fresh air, so when growing Phalaenopsis at home, ventilation must be good, especially during the high-humidity period in summer. Good ventilation must be used to prevent heat stress, and it can also help avoid infection by pests and diseases.
5. Fertilization
Phalaenopsis should be fertilized throughout the year. Unless low temperatures persist for a long time, fertilization should not be stopped. Winter is the flower bud differentiation period for Phalaenopsis, and stopping fertilization can easily lead to no flowers or few flowers. Spring and summer are the growing period, and a dilute liquid fertilizer can be applied once every 7-10 days. Organic fertilizer is preferable, and a special nutrient solution for Phalaenopsis can also be used, but do not apply it when there are flower buds, otherwise the buds are likely to drop early. In summer, when leaves grow (that is, after the flowering period), nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer can be applied as a top dressing. In autumn and winter, during the flower stem growth period, phosphorus fertilizer can be used, but it should be dilute, applied about once every 2-3 weeks.
The time for fertilizing is after watering in the afternoon. After fertilizing several times, use a large amount of water to rinse the orchid pot and orchid plant, so as to prevent residual inorganic salts from harming the roots.
6. Management
The flowering period of Phalaenopsis is generally around the Spring Festival, and the viewing period can last as long as 2-3 months. After the flowers wither, the faded flowers must be cut off as early as possible, as this can reduce nutrient consumption. If the flower stem is cut from 4-5 nodes from the base, it can bloom again after 2-3 months. However, this consumes too much of the plant's nutrients and is not conducive to growth in the following year.
If you want it to produce good flowers again the following year, it is best to cut the flower stem from the base. When the growing medium ages, it should be replaced in due course, otherwise aeration becomes poor, which will cause root rot, weaken plant growth, and may even cause death. Generally, repotting in May, when new leaves grow out, is preferable.