Orchids belong to the most diverse family of plants known to man. There are over 880 genera, 28,000 species and over 300,000 registered cultivars.
They produce seedpods that have thousands of seeds but only a few germinate in nature. Orchids must establish a symbiotic relationship with a special fungus to survive the first year of life. To overcome that hurdle, commercial growers like us sow the seeds in a sterile, gel-like media rich in vitamins, minerals, sugar, water, and bananas.
The genus phalaenopsis, pronounced "fal-en-OPP-sis," are among the easiest orchids to grow. An excellent beginner orchid they are also called "moth orchids," referring to their beauty and nearly perfect flower.
Phalaenopsis orchids are monopodial, which is Latin for "single foot," and describes the growth habit of a central stem growing continuously from the tip. In contrast, other types such as cattleyas produce rhizomes at the base of the plant and send out shoots.
The flower spike of phalaenopsis forms from buds between the last maturing leaves and the stem. The spike is long and arching and requires staking to keep it upright. As the plant matures it may have multiple spikes.
Phalaenopsis are excellent houseplants that thrive in the warm temperatures and low light levels normally found in homes.
The first decision you may want to make is if you want a plant that is already fully in bloom or one that has buds. The blooming spike of a phalaenopsis orchid first produces buds and then, one at a time, the flowers open from the bottom up. After all of the blooms have opened you still may have a few weeks to several weeks of flowers. Phales can be in the blooming stage from two to four months. It is one reason they are so popular. So if you want to have a blooming plant for a long time you might choose to select one that has just a few opened buds. On the other hand, if you are preparing for a party or a special occasion you may want to choose one or more that are in full bloom.
When you purchase your blooming orchid there are two factors to consider. One, the soil is broken down causing it to stay wet longer, and, two, the plant uses more water to sustain blooms. Check the plant often to make sure the soil is moist. Most people like a watering schedule of once a week or twice a week. But to water your orchid properly, it is best to establish the time frame yourself.
For temperature we use "hot" to mean above 80 degrees fahrenheit, and "cool" to mean below 80 degrees fahrenheit.
The general directions are to feed weekly by watering with a balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer but there are other tips that may be helpful to you.
The withered spike from the previous blooming season should be cutoff at the base of the plant. However if the spike appears to still be "alive," you may want to cut it off just above the node at the live area of the spike. When this is done the orchid may sometimes re-bloom.
There are 6 steps involved in re-potting your orchid.
