How many years can a Phalaenopsis orchid live, and after how many years is it usually discarded?

When it comes to Phalaenopsis orchids, plenty of people probably think this flower is delicate, like a"one-off" that should be thrown out once it finishes blooming. But in fact, a Phalaenopsis orchid lives much longer than we think; with good care it can stay with you for several years.

How long exactly can a Phalaenopsis orchid live? Under normal conditions, as long as it is cared for properly, living5to10years is no problem at all, and some orchid-growing experts can even keep the same Phalaenopsis orchid for more than ten years. Unlike those annual herbaceous flowers, it is a perennial plant, just like the pothos and Monstera at home: as long as the roots have not rotted and the leaves have no major problems, it can keep growing.

So why do some people think a Phalaenopsis orchid has to be thrown out after one year? Most likely they have not figured out its temperament. A newly bought Phalaenopsis orchid blooms big and bright, but after the flowers fade, the leaves slowly turn yellow and the roots start to rot, looking beyond saving. In fact, this is not it"dying of old age", but a problem with our care.

Take watering, for example: many people always worry it is thirsty and water it every few days, and end up soaking the roots to rot. The roots of a Phalaenopsis orchid are aerial roots that like air, and too much water actually suffocates them. Then there is fertilizing: right after the flowering period they fertilize heavily, hoping to make it rebloom quickly, and end up burning the roots. Temperature is also crucial: below10℃ in winter and above30℃ in summer, it easily gets sick and looks listless, making people think it should be discarded.

In fact, after a Phalaenopsis orchid finishes blooming, as long as it is tended well, it can bloom again the next year. After the flowers fade, cut the flower stem short, place it in a spot with indirect light, water less, and let it rest. Once new growth points appear, gradually increase watering and fertilizing, and when the flowering season comes it will still send up flower spikes. That pot of Phalaenopsis orchid at my neighbor's house has been grown for five years and blooms on time every winter.

Of course, a Phalaenopsis orchid cannot be grown forever either. After seven or eight years, its vitality slowly declines, the leaves become fewer and fewer, and the blooms become fewer and smaller; at that point, no matter how carefully you care for it, its condition cannot go back to what it was. Discarding it then does not hurt, since it has already kept you company for so long, which is worth it.

So how many years a Phalaenopsis orchid can be grown really depends on how we treat it. Treating it as a one-off flower is a bit unfair; try to understand its needs more and make fewer of those watering and fertilizing mistakes, and maybe it will bring you several years of surprises. Next time you buy a Phalaenopsis orchid, do not rush to think about when to throw it out; first think about how to let it keep you company for a few more years.