PHALAENOPSIS AS INDOOR PLANTS
Phalaenopsis are an ideal orchid for beginners. They have low light requirements, the flowers can last for months, and they also prefer the same temperature that you do.
Doesn't that sound easy!
Well, it is! Think of them as exotic African Violets. All you have to do is bear a few things in mind, such as light, humidity, temperature, watering and air movement.
Let's take them one at a time.
Light. - Best is filtered, direct sunlight, but they will grow without direct sunlight. Try a windowsill that faces north or east with a lacy type curtain. Keep an eye on them initially in case they show signs of sunburn. If they do, you should move them elsewhere or add another curtain.
Humidity. - Phalaenopsis do like a reasonable humidity. Isn't reasonable
such a nice word! Let's see if we can expand a bit on that. If you have
a hygrometer in your house, (they are usually attached to a barometer)
then you have the best device for measuring relative humidity ( or relative
hygro ). Relative humidity is shown as a %. Thus, 50% relative humidity
is just fine. Phalaenopsis can take a relative humidity as low as 40%,
below that is a bit iffy. Higher humidity is ok but in the home it would
be unusual to have 80 to 90% humidity, which is when fungal problems seem
to occur.
Now,… if you have an evaporative cooler in your house - no problem.
If not use a small spray bottle to mist your plants during the heat of
our summer. Mist often, they love it.
Temperature. - On a cold winters night, the temperature in your home will always be a few degrees warmer than outside. Rarely will inside temperature go below 6 degrees. Phalaenopsis can stand cold for short periods of time so long as they are not cold and wet. Ideal temperature for growing phalaenopsis is 15 degrees minimum and the maximum doesn't matter too much so long as the humidity is reasonable ( there's that reasonable humidity again). Don't let that 15 degree minimum worry you unduly. Cold may slow a phalaenopsis's growth rate, but usually they are not harmed in any other way.
Watering/Fertilizing - As a rule of thumb, you should water an orchid,
then let it dry out before you water it again. However, in a perfect world,
you do not allow your phalaenopsis to dry out completely. ( isn't that
helpful). It really is quite simple. When we say 'dry out', we mean 'almost
dry out'! ( Oh well. There goes another rule of thumb.) Rainwater is best
- but if you have no rainwater, do what most people do, and use tap water.
Should your Phalie tend to dry out too quickly and the leaves become soft
and limp, try double potting it. This is where you put the orchid pot,
into another pot so that it leaves a gap at the bottom between the two
pots. A bit of sphagnum moss in that gap will help to hold the moisture,
and keep up the humidity around the roots.
Fertilizer should be applied as a VERY weak solution. Strong fertilizer
could kill your plant. And fertilize often.
Air Movement - This is not essential, but could hold down leaf temperature
on hot days , and prevent fungal disease when your phalaenopsis is wet.
So, there you have it. As I said, simple! As your phalaenopsis grows bigger,
it will have more and bigger flowers. Also, when the flowers fall off,
leave the spike on the plant as often a secondary spike will shoot from
it . It is not unknown for a well grown phal. to be in flower for 12 months.
Now there's something to look forward to!
Tony Watkinson.
