Phalaenopsis Orchid Care
Phalaenopsis orchids are often called butterfly orchids by nursery growers, but they are usually called moth orchids by everyone else. Some people believe their name refers to the Phalaena family, which is the name of a group of large moths. These orchids are native to Southeast Asia, from the Himalayan mountains to the Philippines and in Northern Australia.
More Phalaenopsis are sold than any others, with this family making up three-fourths of all orchids sold each year. Phalaenopsis care might surprise you when you learn that the humidity level needed by these orchids is much higher than you will find in most homes. In fact, it is the level most commonly found in rain forests, around eighty percent. They can do with a little less humidity than that but if it gets down around fifty percent, you are definitely going to need to supply more. One way is to get a tray, cover it with gravel, and add some water to it. Set the plant pots on the gravel but not touching the water. This is a good way to create humidity.
Phalaenopsis orchids don’t need direct sun light but they do need bright windows. They also will grow normally when artificial lighting is used. The best set-up for phalaenopsis orchid care is when the fluorescent lighting is of the two or four tube variety, and they are hung around a foot over the plants themselves. The leaves should not be allowed to get hot.
Another need of Phalaenopsis orchids is for a good difference between day and night temperatures. For example, the day temperature should be between 70 and 82 degrees, while the night temperatures should be just above 60 degrees. A fifteen-degree difference is good, such as 80 during the day and 65 degrees at night. The temperatures must never go above 95 degrees or the plant will be in deep trouble.
One of the reasons some people like the Phalaenopsis orchids is because to some extent you can manipulate the flower spikes into starting to bloom. What you need to do is to keep the temperatures at a level under 78 degrees for three to five weeks. They need to have good light during this period. If you have buds forming, any big change in temperatures or a drop in humidity will cause the buds to drop off and the plant will not flower.
As with all orchids, the amount of water for phalaenopsis care is critical. They must not get over-watered but they also must not dry out completely. The orchids should be nearly but not completely dry when watered. If you happen to live in a hot, dry climate this could be as often as every three days or so during the summer. A cold, winter climate will need much less frequent watering. You should use a fertilizer regularly with this type of orchid. A standard synthetic fertilizer will do.
Part of the popularity of the Phalaenopsis orchid is the fact that not only will cooler temperatures induce flowering, when your orchid does bloom, it will be anywhere from eighty to one-hundred-twenty days. Your friends and neighbors will be very impressed when you invite them over to see this beautiful orchid in bloom.
