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.

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)

This Phalaenopsis refused to grow in a pot and so it was mounted on to a piece of cork bark, 12 months later it flowered for the first time and continued to bloom for over 18 months! FANTASTIC.

Note the aerial roots taking hold of the bubble wrap in all directions, this gives the plant a very strong anchor to the tree or in this case chunk of cork.

If you mount your orchid on Bark then you will need to water or spray the roots daily otherwise dehydration may occur.

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