Phalaenopsis Orchid Plant Care

     The Phalaenopsis Orchid plant, also known as the Moth Orchid, is one of the lowest maintenance, hearty and beautiful orchids you can grow. It is also arguably one of the most popular potted orchid plants in the world today. Once you learn a few basics, you’ll be able to grow and flower your elegant Phalaenopsis orchid for years to come. And what’s most rewarding is that with each year, your orchid plant will produce more flowers than the last!

      One of the main reasons Phalaenopsis orchids are so easy to care for is that they prefer the same conditions we do! The factors any plant owner must take into consideration are things like temperature, light, watering, and humidity.

     Temperature and Light: Bright, indirect light is ideal with most orchid plant care. Southern and eastern exposure is optimal, as well as shady western light. Most importantly, never place your Phalaenopsis orchid in full sun.

     The foliage is always the best indicator of what your plant needs. Ideally, you want to see firm, light to medium green leaves. Limp, dark green leaves indicate that your orchid is not being exposed to enough light. On the other hand, too much light exposure will produce an excess of dark reddish pigmentation. You’ll want to remedy this quickly, as it can result in your Phalaenopsis producing fewer and even smaller blooms. Another way to tell if your plant is getting the optimal amount of light is seeing a very slight reddish hue near the base of the leaves. This lets you know that no more light is necessary!

     Watering: One thing every orchid plant owner should understand is that, in its natural setting, a Phalaenopsis orchid attaches its roots to tree bark, and they are exposed. When exposed to frequent rainfall, the roots thoroughly absorb water, and then dry out before they are watered again.

     When grown in a pot, it is easy to overwater an orchid plant, without having this knowledge, and this can result in the roots rotting, causing the plant to wilt or die. A certain balance must be kept when watering your Phalaenopsis. Simply put, you want to allow the roots to dry out a bit between watering; however, you never want the roots to be bone dry. Water the plant thoroughly early in the day, as with all orchid plants, so the leaves can dry by the evening. Also, be sure never to allow standing water on the soil, where the leaves emerge. Filtered tap water is ideal, and should be cool or room temperature when administered (never cold)… think rainwater!

     Simply water your plant with a gentle stream or spray, and allow the pot to drain. Excess water should drain from the bottom of the plant’s pot, making sure the roots are wet, and to flush excess salt from the soil. The frequency of watering depends upon the light and temperature conditions. In warm, dry conditions, water every few days, and during cooler times of year, since the roots will remain moist for a bit longer, go a little longer between watering.

     Humidity: Most orchid plants come from tropical environments of 50-90% humidity, so dry air is definitely not ideal when caring for your Phalaenopsis. This may be the most challenging factor to control indoors, especially during winter, when heaters are run, and the air is generally very dry.

     Microfoggers and humidifiers are a simple solution if you keep your plant in an area where one can be used, such as an enclosed area. If you keep your orchid plant on a windowsill, or larger room, you can try grouping plants together (they will develop their own microclimate around each other!), using humidity grow trays which collect excess water from watering your plants, or setting your orchid pot in a shallow tray or saucer filled with pebbles and water. Be sure to place the pot on the pebbles and not in the water, since orchids do not prefer wet roots.

     Circulation is also an important factor to consider. Remember, in its most natural setting, Phalaenopsis orchids grow higher up off the ground, on trees, where there is constant air flow. This helps to keep plants cool. Running a small fan near a group of plants (particularly during winter, when air is dry and stagnant) will help tremendously. Otherwise, your orchid plants should do just fine.