Care of Your Phalaenopsis Orchid.
During our visit to Ostend, to orchitect Luc Gryp of Orchids Eldorado (on the map) asked how the famous orchid, the Phalaenopsis, the best care. He summarized it as follows:
The genus Phalaenopsis comprises some 40 botanical species found in Southeast Asia and northeastern Australia. This orchid owes its popularity to:
▪ the long durability of the striking flowers
· The minimal maintenance, because once a week watering is sufficient
· Easy getting them back into bloom orchid
· Independence of the seasons, which the orchid is available at any time
· Thousands hybrids of Phalaenopsis, which in a variety of colors and shades available
Features
The Phalaenopsis is recognizable by the thick, oval, fleshy, green leaves and silver-gray, sometimes flattened roots, with delicate red or green growth points, which attach themselves to almost any surface. The flower stalk (s) develop among the leaves and can be 30-80 cm long and a flower to 10 cm in diameter, such as the Phalaenopsis grandiflora hybrids.
Culture
· Temperature:
The ideal temperature for a Phalaenopsis is between 20-25 ° C daytime and at night no lower than 15 ° C, what this orchid makes an ideal indoor plant. Cold trip is not recommended, but a little gentle air movement makes the plant well. A windowsill that north, northwest aimed generally ideal.
· Watering:
Phalaenopsis prefer the morning once a week watering. Preferably immerse in lukewarm water (approx. 15 min) then let the plant well before you drain back into the pot. Between the two water potmengsel donations must be dry. Therefore, there is no water in the pot stand. Usually gives a Phalaenopsis mind because too much water rather than by another cause, because the plant does not “wet feet” can stand. If possible, use rainwater at room temperature. Do not leave water standing in the heart of the plant, because that leads to hartrot and eventual loss of the plant.
· Humidity:
Preferably between 60 and 80%. Higher humidity can be achieved in the area of the plant to squirt water or mist.
· Herb Low:
The flowers appear after the mature branches of a pair of leaves. Sometimes it is a flower stem, sometimes there are more flower stalks parallel. After flowering, the stems of phalaenopsis be pruned to a lower eye. If the plant is strong enough, following a half bloom. Thus, the flowering period of up to nine to ten months!
· A baby orchid (Keiki):
Some Phalaenopsis species form after flowering “Keiki” on the bloemtak. Keiki’s are young plants after a while their roots are cut and can be potted to be.
· Dry flower buds:
Note that in Phalaenopsis button in the draft state, which may cause dehydration or knopval. Knopval can also be caused by a high temperature to low light – as often occurs in the winter.
· Composting:
The Phalaenopsis is required fertilizer during the growing season, 1x per month is sufficient. In the winter months
· Repotting:
The ground mixture is moistened week, after which the digest is approximately 2 years. It takes much more than waterproof, sours and finally a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. It is advisable to first flowering phalaenopsis after potting. After flowering, the plant every two years to be repotted. Take the opportunity to repot of the dead and rotten roots to flip. The phalaenopsis is a oppotmengsel use of coarse bark with charcoal and sphagnum, or the mixture that we offer