Is the Phalaenopsis 'First Love' easy to care for? Detailed care methods and precautions
Today I'd like to introduce you to an absolutely stunning Phalaenopsis variety - Phalaenopsis 'Chuxian' (First Love).
Phalaenopsis 'Chuxian' is a medium-sized flower, with petals that are a bold, flamboyant red, laced with faint pale purple stripes that give it a hazy, dreamy feel, making it impossible to look away.
Although Phalaenopsis 'Chuxian' is not strictly a summer-blooming variety, it is not at all fussy! As long as the temperature stays between 15-30°C, it can produce gorgeous flower spikes in all four seasons, each individual bloom lasts as long as 2-3 months, and the whole plant's ornamental period can last 4-6 months! It blooms from early summer all the way to late autumn. Whether placed in the living room, on a desk, or given as a gift, it is more than suitable - its beauty and elegance are simply off the charts!
Many people think Phalaenopsis 'Chuxian' is difficult to grow, but with the right method it really isn't hard at all!
Watering: alternate between wet and dry, and err on the side of dry rather than wet. Use the soak-and-drain method - find a large basin and pour in water 5cm deep, put the pot in and soak for 10 minutes, then take it out and let it drain once the potting medium has absorbed enough water. In spring and autumn, water 1 time per week, in summer once every 3-4 days1 time, and in winter about every 10 days1 time. Note! Never water into the crown of the leaves, as it easily causes rot!
Light: place it by a south-facing windowsill with a sheer curtain drawn, or on an east or west balcony, and 2-3 hours of bright indirect light a day is enough. Harsh direct sun will scorch the edges of the petals, while too much shade will stop it from blooming.
Temperature: bring it indoors once it drops below 15°C, and keep it away from the air-conditioning vent in an air-conditioned room; in summer, once it exceeds 32°C, open the windows for ventilation, otherwise the roots are prone to suffocating.
Fertilizing: before the flowering period, use Peters Professional 2, diluted to a 1000-fold solution, and apply 1 time per week; after flowering, switch to Peters Professional 1 to supplement nitrogen fertilizer and help it rebloom!
Notes
1.Phalaenopsis has aerial roots, so only a mix of bark, sphagnum moss and expanded clay pebbles as potting medium can keep it airy and prevent root rot!
2.Don't disturb it during the flowering period or right after you bring it home - wait until the flowers fade before repotting, otherwise the buds are prone to dropping!
3.To increase humidity, you can place a basin of water around the pot, but don't spray the petals directly, as it will cause spots and rot!
Tip: after the flowers fade, count 2-3 nodes up from the base of the flower spike and cut there, then supplement with fertilizer, and a new flower spike will soon emerge.