What is the best pot for Phalaenopsis, and what are the suitable temperature and light?

If you want to grow the stunningly beautiful "Phalaenopsis" well, you certainly can't do without caring for it every day, and the key to brilliant blooming is healthy roots, and healthy roots mean you have to learn how to choose the medium.

Why do I say that? Because Phalaenopsis is not an ordinary flower; it is native to the tropical rainforest, and it itself is most afraid of non-breathable garden soil. If the medium you use for growing it is soil, then replace it quickly, because garden soil tends to compact, and it is especially easy to smother the roots.

First, let's talk about the basic care of Phalaenopsis. When choosing a pot, beginners are advised to give priority to a transparent plastic pot or a red clay pot. The diameter of the pot just needs to be 5 cm larger than the root system. The bottom of the pot must have drainage holes (if the holes are small, then make more holes in the bottom), so that water does not accumulate easily. Here, large porcelain pots are the least recommended, because they are not breathable. In addition, for the potting mix, sphagnum moss and bark are recommended, mixed at a ratio of 7:3. This kind of mix is both breathable and water-retentive.

Second, if it is a newly bought Phalaenopsis in bloom, it is not recommended to repot it in a hurry. Just slip it, together with its original pot, into a nice decorative pot. Repotting needs to wait until it has finished flowering, otherwise repotting may affect the flowering period, or even make the flowers fade early.

Then, let's talk about light and temperature. It likes scattered light and is suitable for placement on an east-facing windowsill. Basking in 4 to 6 hours of scattered light every day is best. If there is no east-facing balcony, and you place it in another spot with relatively intense light, you need to place the orchid behind a curtain, which both lets it absorb light for photosynthesis and prevents it from being scorched by strong light. If your home is relatively dark, then you need to buy an ordinary grow light separately to supplement the light.

Finally, orchids generally like a climate between 15 and 28 degrees Celsius. In summer, if the temperature exceeds 32 degrees Celsius, you have to give it ventilation, and you cannot rely only on natural wind. Point a fan directly beside the Phalaenopsis, but do not blow it directly at the plant; just let the air move, which can drive the heat out of the air faster. If your home uses a low-power small ceiling fan or circulating fan, it is recommended to keep it on 24 hours a day, so that its root system recovers to its best condition as quickly as possible. In winter, make sure the temperature stays above 10 degrees Celsius, otherwise it is easily frostbitten.