What temperature is suitable for Phalaenopsis orchids to grow, and should they be fertilized in September?
Walking into a flower market, when you take a fancy to the Phalaenopsis orchids in front of a certain stall and ask the shop owner, most of them will briefly tell you, "Phalaenopsis orchids are easy to grow and aren't picky about location; usually you just need to water them a bit when the soil is dry."
In fact, the flower shop owner only covered the basics of watering for care; most didn't explain clearly in detail the issues of the suitable growing temperature and fertilizing for Phalaenopsis orchids. Because if you want to grow orchids well and only know how to water them in daily care, you'll find that each bloom is not splendid, and some buds may even wither and drop early without opening.
What's the reason? It's very likely that the temperature wasn't handled well. In different seasons, growing Phalaenopsis orchids requires different methods. It likes to live in an ambient temperature of 15 to 28 degrees Celsius. In spring and autumn, which are already within the suitable temperature range, you can place it anywhere without a problem. But if in winter, the temperature may drop below 10 degrees Celsius, then we have to move it back indoors and also keep it away from air conditioning vents and radiators (here it's recommended to place it 1 meter away from the air conditioner in winter). Normally there's no need to specially tend to it; when it gets warmer, it will naturally bloom. In care, pay attention to keeping temperature fluctuations small, so that it can grow steadily.
Next, let's talk about the fertilizing issue. Some friends fertilize based on their mood, but doing so is actually wrong. Phalaenopsis orchids have two key time periods. One is March to April, when the Phalaenopsis orchid is preparing to send out flower spikes; giving it some fertilizer can make the flower spikes grow sturdier and the blooms more vigorous. The other is September to October, just after the flowering period ends, when the plant needs to nourish its roots and recover its vitality; fertilizing at this time can help the root system grow more robust and lay the foundation for blooming next year.
If you find fertilizing troublesome during operation, here are a few lazy-person solutions. One is to buy a special slow-release fertilizer for orchids; just sprinkle a few granules on the surface of the substrate each time, and the fertilizer will be released slowly, so you don't need to do it frequently, and one application can last quite a while. Another method is to use monopotassium phosphate, diluted at a ratio of 1:1000 and sprayed on the leaves; it's absorbed quickly and convenient. But when doing this, remember that Phalaenopsis orchids absolutely must not be fertilized while in bloom, otherwise it can easily cause the flowers to wither early.