Caring for orchids including Phalaenopsis Orchids require five conditions to be met in order for the plant to thrive, light, temperature, water, humidity, fertilizer, and re-potting occasionally. Knowing the right amount of each can help you keep your plant healthy and beautiful.

The light requirements of the Phalaenopsis orchid can be accomplished by simulating their natural growing environment. They need to have a full day of light just no direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will burn them similar to when a person gets a sunburn. If the orchid will be grown indoors, placing in front of a bright window where the sun can not directly hit the plant will work well. If growing in a green house 75 to 85 percent shade is needed. Holding your hand one foot above the plant, you should not be able to see your hand. You can also use artificial lights to supplement the needs of your orchid. A four tube florescent light fixture with 40 watt bulbs hanging about a foot over the plant will accomplish the task. If you have a way to measure the light it should range between 1000 and 1500 foot candles for the duration of a normal day.

The temperatures for Phalaenopsis orchids to sustain health range between 75 F to 85 F. They will survive higher temperatures up to 95 F, however higher humidity and air flow is necessary at the higher temperatures in order to survive. At the low end you want to keep the temperature above 60 F. Warmer temperatures spur faster growth. Growers will put these orchid plants in cooler temperatures for several weeks in the autumn in order to initiate flower spikes. When buds are ready to open stabilize temperature changes. Too much fluctuation will cause the buds to drop.

For Phalaenopsis orchids, water is especially crucial. There is no major organs that can store water like other genus of orchids. There leaves are the closest thing to it. These orchid plants should never be completely dried out. Water thoroughly and then let it dry out some before watering again. In dry summer heat it may be necessary to water every other day. In the winter every week to ten days may work depending on how dry it is where the plant lives. Obviously humidity affects how often to water.

Humidity plays an important part of caring for Phalaenopsis orchids. Best conditions include humidity between 60 and 80 percent, and the air needs to be moving. If you are growing the plant indoors, a humidity tray will usually accomplish this.

In warm weather fertilize Phalaenopsis orchids regularly. Twice a month should be sufficient. Some growers fertilize with every watering but use the fertilizer at quarter strength during the warm and humid growing conditions. During the winter apply twice a month but at a weaker strength than in the summer.

Re-potting Phalaenopsis orchids is best done in the spring time right after flowering. Use a porous mix. Re-potting is usually done every year or two as the plant is maturing. Once it is fully mature repot only when the potting media starts to decompose. If the medium gets to soggy root rot will start to occur.

Author Bio: Ellen Reader is an orchid expert. For more great information on Caring for Orchids , visit http://www.onlineorhidcenter.com.

Category: Gardening
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