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Phalaenopsis have become one of the most favourite orchids grown by orchid lovers. Phalaenopsis is an orchid genus that is well suited to home growing. Plants of this genus have long-lasting sprays of beautiful flowers, representing almost all colours of the spectrum. Phalaenopsis are widely available and ready to give weeks of pleasure in your home or office. With modest light and consistent moisture, they will delight you with their relative ease of culture. The main flowering season is late winter into spring, but commercial growers can make flowering phalaenopsis available year round.

Phalaenopsis prefers bright light, but not direct sun. If you grow your plants in your home, an east, west or shaded north window is recommended. If you grow your plants in a greenhouse, 30 percent full sun is recommended. Should you grow your Phalaenopsis under lights, you should use four 40-watt fluorescent tubes and two 40-watt incandescent bulbs directly over your plants. The foliage should be naturally semi erect, and of a medium olive-green colour. If your plant’s foliage is dark green with limp foliage, it indicates that your plants are getting too little light.

Sufficient light is very important for healthy growth and flower production.

Mature phalaenopsis plants should seldom dry out between watering. Phalaenopsis seedlings need more moisture than mature plants.

Mature plants need a 10 to 15 degrees Celsius temperature difference between night and day. Nights of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius and days of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius are tolerated. Phalaenopsis seedlings need temperatures of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than mature plants.

Phalaenopsis plants need 60 to 70 percent humidity. If you grow your plants in your home, place them on trays of moistened pebbles. If you grow your plants in a greenhouse, use a humidifier if conditions are too dry.

Fertiliser must be provided on a regular basis because most potting media have too little. The exact fertiliser you use will depend on the potting mix in which your plant is growing. A good general rule is to use a balanced (10-10-10, 12-12-12 or similar ratio) fertiliser in a weak solution on a weekly basis. That is, fertilise your plants every week at one quarter to one half of the recommended dilution.

Potting should be done every one to two years, before the mix breaks down too far. Potting is best done in late spring after the main flowering season. You should use a well-drained but water-retentive mix. Select the pot size according to the root mass and not according to top size.

PLEASE NOTE: The above information is only a general guideline on growing your Phalaenopsis.

Please Note: The opinions & recommendations made in articles that  appear on this website, are those of the individual authors, and not those of the Orchid Society of Northern Transvaal (ONT). The ONT neither adopts nor endorses such opinions & recommendations and disclaims all responsibility for them. This includes products advertised on this website.