Xela's Garden

Moth Orchid [V]

Genus: Phalaenopsis.

Species: Phalaenopsis.

Displayed
12.12 by Vistabile french window
Bought ? for ? from ?
07.08 Gift from Mother
01.10 inherited & adopted from Mother
12.12 gift from Sam & James
gift from Daizy

Warm Growing Types
15 - 28 C (60 - 82F)

The Phalaenopsis orchid is commonly known as the moth orchid as the flowers are borne on slender arching stems and the the white ones do look like moths in mid flight. This is a warm growing orchid and needs temperatures of at least 15C (60F) during the winter and can be allowed to rise up to 28C (82F) during the summer - 20C - 22C being the optimum.

Phalaenopsis make excellent house plants and will thrive in a centrally heated house providing some basic care is given. Simple misting with clean water several times a week during the summer or standing the plant pot on a large plate of wet pebbles will provide adequate humidity. The best time to spray the plants is mid morning as this will allow the water to evaporate before night time. You should NOT allow water to rest in the centre of the plant overnight or rot may occur with lighting speed! - and we are talking OVERNIGHT in some cases if it's cold too.

Phalaenopsis are usually supplied in 12cm translucent pots, this is the ideal size for a single plant and should last it for 12 - 18 months. These orchids will strive to get out of their pots and want to adopt a more horizontal position, this is due to the way they grow in their natural habitat of S E Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines etc) where they cling at an angle to the branches of large tropical trees up in the forest canopy.

Light requirements:
Phalaenopsis like good light but not direct full sun as they will scorch, they will also tolerate some shade during the growing season. Keep them in a well lit position during the winter months but again, not in direct full sun.

Watering requirements:
Phalaenopsis do actually like plenty of water but they don't like sitting in damp situations so a very open mixture of compost of required to grow them successfully. Water these plants once every 10 - 14 days during the winter months (depending on temperature, warmer - more often, cooler less often) and weekly or more during the summer.

Feeding requirements:
Feed every two weeks during the summer months with an all purpose plant food at half the strength the pack recommends, feed no more than once every month with quarter strength food during the winter.

Re-potting schedule:
Re potting should be undertaken during the spring months if grown in pots and should be done annually or when the plant is untidy and angled in its pot, use a large grade bark or compost, if you grow on cork bark (mounted) then repotting or re mounting need not be done until the plant is unmanageable.
Phalaenopsis can be induced to flower again on finishing flower spikes by cutting the flower stem off just above a node on the stem - this looks like a tiny leaf that lays flat to the stem. New growth will start from this node after about a month or so and flowers will develop after 2 to 3months. (see below)

Re-Flowering Phalaenopsis:
Phalaenopsis are one of the easiest orchids to get to re flower because they thrive in modern houses. Typically a plant will be in bloom for around 3 - 4 months after which you can remove the old flowering stem (known as a spike) right to the bottom, this will allow the plant to build up strength to throw out another spike in around 9 months. If the old flowering spike is brown then this is the best option and the plant should start to throw out a new spike in 5 - 9 months or sooner depending on environment.
Alternatively, if the spike is still green or half brown then cut the old stem just above a 'node' (see right), the plant should be left with around 4 - 5 inches of stem ending in a 'node'. This method will allow the plant to throw out a new spike from the 'node' in only a few weeks but they will be smaller than the 'full fat' flower and possibly fewer in number.
The last method is only suitable for plants in very good health as it does tend to sap energy from the plant.
[Source: ? ]

PHALAENOPSIS
Compact habit of growth.
Ideal houseplant for warm room.
Very long-lasting flowers in a wide range of colours and patterns, large, rounded flowers giving it its common name "Moth Orchid".
Blooming season lasts all the year and will reflower from the same stem several times.

PHALAENOPSIS CARE
One of the most popular orchids grown as houseplants are the Moth Orchids or Phalaenopsis. They make good indoor plants because they can tolerate the drier heat of central heating as well as being almost perpetually flowering.
They do not have bulbs like other orchids but instead grow with fleshy leaves, new ones formed from the central crown. They also produce a lot of aerial roots that come over the side of the pot as well as into the bark compost.

RE-FLOWERING:
1. Phalaenopsis will bloom for many months at a time if kept in a warm room with diffused light.
Water sparingly from the top, letting the pot drain well. This may be every 1-2 weeks depending on how warm the room is and whether the plant is growing or not. Take care not to overwater and avoid water collecting in the centre.
Check on the roots through the clear pot.
2. The plant will continue to make more buds from the end of the stem, the flowers gradually opening in succession, giving an impressive show. Along the length of the main stem there are many eyes or nodes. Before all the flowers have died and the sap is still rising, cut the stem right off above the highest node. If it is not cut until the flowers have dropped then the stem may start to die back.
3. The node will then soon start to produce a side branch with more flower buds. When these have all flowered, repeat by cutting above the next node down the main stem and so on. When the base of the stem is reached or it fails to re-bloom for you, then cut off at the base. Occasionally a new plant (keiki) may grow from the stem, allow this to get to a strong size with a few leaves and roots and then gently remove and pot up in fine bark.

TEMPERATURE: Moth Orchids love the warmth of most modern homes, keep a minimum on winter nights of 18°C (65°F), with a daytime maximum of 30°C(85°F).

LIGHT: Keep shaded form bright, direct summer sun as this can scorch the leaves. Give as much light as possible during the dull winter months.

WATERING: Keep the free-draining bark compost moist all the year round. When watering the plant, remove it from any cover pot or saucer, pour water through the pot and then let it drain before placing it back in a decorative planter. Never let the pot stand in water. Allow the compost to dry out slightly and the pot to become lighter before watering again. Avoid watering collecting in the crown of the plant as this can cause a rot. Add a little orchid fertiliser to the water once every 2 or 3 waterings (approx. every 10-14 days) all year round.

POTTING:
STEP 1. Re-pot your Phalaenopsis when it is climbing out of its pot.
Choose a time when its flowering has finished and when the roots are actively growing. Cut the old stem right back to the base and if still in flower, the blooms can be placed in water.
STEP 2. Remove the plant from its pot and shake off the majority of the old bark compost. If it has been several years since it was last potted then the compost may have started to break down. Keep this old bark separate from the new media about to be used.
STEP 3. Using clean, sharp secateurs or scissors, trim back the roots to a length of about 10cm minimum. Healthy roots should be white or green and plump. Over-watered roots are brown and shrivelled. Take this opportunity to remove any dead leaves and completely dead roots.
STEP 4. Position the plant in a clean pot, slightly bigger if necessary and hold in place, centrally with one hand, whilst filling up with fresh bark compost with the other. They grow well in clear pots but these are not essential. Choose any container that has plenty of drainage holes.
STEP 5. Making sure the bark is pressed down firmly to anchor the plant, top it up to just below the rim of the pot. Make a note of the potting date on the label. Use the clear pot to your advantage, keep an eye on the roots and you will see if they are keeping healthy.
STEP 6.
Water about once every 1-2 weeks and spray the surface of the compost to encourage the new roots to grow.
Soon it will make a new leaf and the next flower spike will shortly follow.
[Source: http://www.orchids.uk.com/beginnersthree.htm ]

Photos of this plant

Reminders for this plant