Taking care of plants at home can be one of the best ways for you to relieve the pressure you feel at work. This can be a source of happiness especially if you can see the plants bloom. If you are thinking about what type of plant is perfect for your garden, then you should not forget having orchids. Seeing this flower blooms will surely put a smile on your face. One of the most beautiful types of orchids that you should have in your garden is the Phalaenopsis orchid.
What You Should Know about Phalaenopsis Orchid
Phalaenopsis orchid which is also called the beginner’s orchid is known for its ability to withstand different conditions due to its toughness. It is a popular type of orchid flower in Singapore that is easy to care for. Suitable for flower delivery in Singapore for any occasion. So if you were planning to have a houseplant that will not give you stress then you can consider taking care for phalaenopsis orchid. Listed below are some useful tips on how to grow Phalaenopsis orchid.
- Light – The orchid requires indirect light from medium to bright. You have to keep it away from direct sunlight to prevent the leaves from burning. You can easily identify if the plant is acquiring to much light if the leaves become yellowish in color. During winter, it is best that you grow the plant in a greenhouse to get the exposure it needs.
- Water – When watering the phalaenopsis orchid, you have to check the potting mix first and make sure that it is dry. You can water the plants once a week. Use your finger to identify if the soil is still damp. Never allow the plants to stay in the water.
- Temperature – It is important that you maintain an even temperature for the plants especially when it starts to produce buds. The required temperature for the plant during daytime is 68 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit while on nighttime, phalaenopsis orchid needs 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The cold temperature will only cause the buds and the flowers to drop.
- Fertilizer – There is no need to fertilize the plant when it starts to bloom. On the other hand, if you really need to use a fertilizer then it is recommended to use 12-12-12 or the same ratio. You can improve the blooming of the orchid by making use of fertilizer with high phosphorus.
- Blooming – The orchid blooms from January to May. In cool temperatures, it can bloom 3 times a year.
- Growth – It is important that you know the proper way of growing the plat if you want the orchids to grow double in size.
What are the Different Phases of Phalaenopsis Orchid
Though phalaenopsis orchid is easy to care for, you will still find it difficult to grow one if you are a beginner. The blooming and the growing stages of the plant can be very frustrating because once these stages passed then the plant will eventually die.
- Flowering Phase – The plant will start to produce flowers from late fall to winter.
- Growing Phase – The growing stage of phalaenopsis orchid starts from late fall up to the summer season.
- Dormancy – This stage happens during the fall season.
How to Trigger Phalaenopsis Orchid to Rebloom
Seeing your orchids bloom can be overwhelming. However, once it enters dormancy and stops from producing flowers, you will surely feel upset thinking that the plant will eventually die. But instead of worrying about seeing your orchids wither, why not look for ways on how you can possibly trigger its reblooming. If taking care for a Phalaenopsis orchid is not that time-consuming, allowing your plant to bloom already requires enough attention.
During the dormancy stage, the plant will need to acquire nutrients and time to rest for it to bloom again. Dormancy takes place from 6 to 9 months and after that, you can expect for the orchid to bloom again. If you are planning to let the plant bloom again, then listed below are some steps that you have to follow.
- Once the orchid stops from producing flowers, then it is best that you use fertilizers every other week. Knowing that phalaenopsis orchid doesn’t demand too much water, then you only need 3 ice cubes during the time that you are fertilizing the plant.
- It can also be helpful if you will think to place your orchid in an area without a temperature of 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. With this temperature, you can expect the plant from producing a new flower.
- Put the orchid back to its original location and continue using 3 ice cubes when watering the plant once a week.
Taking Care of Phalaenopsis Orchid After They Bloom
You don’t have to feel hopeless after seeing your orchid bloom knowing that it will die sooner or later. Keep in mind that it is still possible for the plant to bloom again as long as you are aware of the steps to trigger if from reblooming. It is necessary that you give your orchid enough attention even after they bloom. Here is the proper way of taking care of your phalaenopsis orchid after it had bloomed.
- After the orchid bloomed, you can think of leaving the flower spike, getting rid of it entirely, or simply cut it back. If you noticed that the stem had withered, then you can consider removing the entire flower spike for it to produce new flower spikes.
- You should place the orchid in an area where it can receive natural light. You have to water the plant weekly and feed it with fertilizer once a month. It would be easier for you to encourage the orchid to bloom by placing it in an area with low temperature.
- You can increase feeding the plant once a week once you have spotted a new flower spike.
There are indeed various ways for you to rebloom your phalaenopsis orchid at home. No wonder why it is a popular houseplant because it is accessible and not that difficult to care for. Make sure that you look for essential information about phalaenopsis orchid so you can have an idea of how you will start growing it at home.