Phalaenopsis or ‘moth orchids’ are one of the most popular indoor plants available. It’s common to see them in full flower on offer at everywhere from your local nursery, florist right through to the checkouts at the supermarket.
But it’s also common for that initial enchantment to lead to disappointment. They look incredible when you first take them home, but then the blooms start to fade, fall off and all you’re left with a rather sad looking bare stem and a couple of leaves.
But don’t despair! With a little bit of technique you can revive that neglected orchid slowly fading away in the corner of your desk back to the glorious state that made you pick it up in the first place.
Growing conditions
The first thing to understand is they come from the tropical and humid lowlands of Indonesia, India, South-East Asia, the Philippines and northern Australia. Given these origins, there is no surprise that these orchids thrive in warmer temperatures, with a preferred temperature range between 15 and 28 degrees. For most of Australia this means they are strictly an indoor plant.
Finding the right growing conditions at your place is as simple as finding somewhere warm, brightly lit but out of direct sunlight. Light that is too bright will burn the leaves.
While windowsills may seem ideal, be aware that glass is often the coldest part of the house overnight and prone to cold draughts. Similarly air conditioners can play havoc with your orchid.
Humidity is also a consideration. Rather than trying to keep up with ineffective misting, a simple long-term hack is to stand your orchid on a tray of pebbles filled with water. This creates an ideal mini-microclimate, and the pebbles keep the pot from sitting directly in the water, which can lead to rots and fungal problems.
Repotting
It’s a good idea to repot your phalaenopsis orchid when you get it home, as the growing media and pot it comes in may not be suitable for your conditions. Simply remove the orchid from the pot and gently tease the roots out of the potting mix. If there are any roots that are soft, wet and mushy to the touch cut them off with some clean snips, as they’ve gone rotten.
Orchids have specialised roots that won’t do well in regular potting mix, so it’s best to use specialty orchid bark mixed blend. This differs from regular potting mix due to the large size of the chunky bark used to make it.
Phalaenopsis orchids are often sold in decorative pots that don’t have drainage holes. While these look cute and are designed to catch the customers eye, they can be a death sentence for the plants. Water pools at the bottom instead of draining out into a drip tray, causing the roots to rot and eventually killing the plant. For this reason it’s better to repot into something with drainage holes
There are two easy options for the beginner grower; either a terracotta orchid pot with holes for roots around the outside, or the clear plastic pots with lots of drainage holes. Both will let water drain out freely, and ensure plenty of air circulation around the roots which these orchids love.
Once you’ve repotted, take the orchid outside and give it a long soak to settle everything in and rehydrate the roots.
If your orchid is growing well, anticipate needing to repot every 12-18 months as the mix will break down over time. You’ll often see the thick, fleshy roots creeping their way up and out of pots. Don’t be concerned, this is a sign your orchid is loving the environment in the pot you’ve provided.
Ongoing maintenance
Orchids do well with regular, weakened applications of specialist fertiliser. An orchid fertiliser that’s high in potassium will encourage flowering, and is best applied every three weeks. Feeding can be slowed over winter and during cooler weather, when the plant isn’t actively growing.
After the flowers are finished if the spike holding them becomes withered, yellow or brown it should be removed as it won’t give you any more flowers. Do this by cutting off at the base of the plant. Removing the spent spike allows the plat to put energy into root development and growth, resulting in more flowers the next time it happens.
Any indoor plant will accumulate dust on its leaves over time, and phalaenopsis are no exception. A dampened rag or paper towel every few months will keep the leaves shiny, and prevent the dust interfering with the leaves natural ability to make energy from the sun.
Do you grow orchids? Why not share some of your growing tips in the comments section below?
Also read: How to save money in the garden
