Phalaenopsis Orchid Care Guide

If you're currently reading this blog, then you're probably one of those people who have avoided phalaenopsis orchids for that exact reason. Once you've finished reading this blog, hopefully you will have the confidence and knowledge to go out and give your first orchid a go!

My Orchid Flowers Are Dying... So What Now?

That sad moment has come when you've noticed the flowers on your beautiful orchid have started to wilt and die off one by one. No need to worry, this is completely normal. Phalaenopsis flowers can last anywhere from 2-3 months, I've personally had some last up to six months!

This doesn't mean that your orchid is dying altogether, their flowers don't last forever and it's all part of their natural cycle.

Given the right care, phalaenopsis can flower twice per year, so patience is key to make sure you get the best result possible!

Let's take a quick look at the life cycle of the phalaenopsis to help you understand what's normal and what to expect when caring for your orchid. ⬇️

The Phalaenopsis Orchid Life Cycle

To take good care of your orchid, it is important to first understand its life cycle and the various stages it will go through so you know what is considered normal and to know if you're on the right track.

Growth Phase

Once you notice the flowers are past their best and you see the flower spike start to brown, it's time to chop it off near the base. You can cut it at one of the nodes if you so wish, (this will mean it may flower a little faster) however you won't get as big of a display next blooming as it will be a 'secondary spike'.

When your orchid is no longer in bloom, it is in what is called it's 'Growth Phase'.

During this time, your plant is focusing on growing new leaves and taking up as many nutrients as it can to prepare for blooming in the future. During this time, your orchid may only put out 1-2 new leaves which is completely normal!

This freaks a lot of people out as they aren't aware of just how slow they do grow.

The growth phase is where the care you give your plant holds its most value, as all the care & prep you give to your plant during this time will determine the kind of bloom show you will get once it enters its 'Blooming Phase'.

Re-Blooming Your Orchid

One of the main things people struggle with is getting their orchids to re-bloom!

A little tip that I always give to people is to allow your orchid to have a cooler period. In nature, phalaenopsis are triggered into flowering after they have experienced a naturally cooler period during the autumn - winter months.

Now by cooler periods I don't mean freeze them to death.. but as little as a 10-12 degree drop in temperature between day & night on average as compared to summer temperatures is enough to help trigger your plant into blooming!

Blooming Phase

Once you see that tiny little orchid spike coming out from between two sets of leaves and reaching for the sky, your plant has entered it's blooming period!

During this time, it is recommended that you give the spike an Orchid Stake as soon as possible and attach the spike to it using Butterfly Clips as soon as it is long enough (be careful, they are fragile whilst still growing) to help support it's growth as the flowers can be heavy!

FUN FACT: Naturally, orchid spikes do hang downwards, however most of us don't have the space to allow for that, hence why they are all staked when you see them in plant shops!

To make sure that your orchid will re-flower in a magnificent display time after time, you'll need to take consistent care of it throughout its lifecycle, so read on to find out everything you need to know and just how easy it really is! ⬇️

General Phalaenopsis Care

Watering

When it comes to watering your orchid, there is a good little trick to help you know when it's time to water. If the roots look silvery, they are dry and are in need of a water. If they are still dark in colour/green, they don't yet need another water.

Another sign that your orchid is in need of a water is that it's leaves will become wrinkly. You never want to let them get to this stage though, as this means that your orchid has become severely dehydrated. The root method is always the best way to measure if your plant needs a water.

In terms of how to water your orchid, it is always recommended to water it directly into the top on the pot, or to fill a bucket/your sink with water & sit your orchid into the water for 15-20 minutes to allow it to soak up as much water as it needs.

Never allow water to get into the 'crown' of your orchid, which is the centre of all the leaves at the top of the plant. The reason for this is that the water may sit in there which can cause what is called 'crown rot'. This is when your orchid will rot from the inside out. This is the #1 killer of orchids!

Fertilising

Like all our house plants, our orchids also need to be feed through out both their growth period & their blooming period.

There are SO many orchid fertilisers out there that will do the trick, but an important thing to remember is that consistency is key!

It is so important to feed your orchid throughout the entire year, but to make sure that you are also not overfeeding it so much that you are going to burn it's roots.

We recommend using GT Orchid Focus as it is free of urea, which is an element of some fertilisers that can hurt your plant if you overfeed it. Not that this makes other fertilisers bad, but it is more of a risk factor.

If you are unsure about the fertiliser you have chosen, simply dilute it a little more to be safe, the idea is to water it weakly, every time you water, rather than inundating it with feed. This will help you get the best results!

You can also get two part fertilisers for orchids such as GT Orchid Bloom & GT Orchid Grow that you switch between during it's different phases. They have different profiles to support your orchid during these phases, however as a beginner the Orchid Focus is a good average rounder.

Re-Potting

When you bring your orchid home, there may be some roots spilling out of the pot that it comes in. This does not mean that you should be re-potting it right away!

FUN FACT: In nature, phalaenopsis actually grow off the side of trees etc, which means that a lot of their roots don't actually have any contact with any kind of substrate at all!

They don't mind being a little root bound in their pots, so I always recommend that you wait until they have finished flowering until you re-pot! Re-potting whilst it is still in flower can cause stress to your plant and it may drop all the beautiful flowers you were so looking forward to enjoying, which is never fun.

Once it has finished flowering you are safe to re-pot. Only re-pot your orchid in a pot 1-2 sizes larger than what it is currently in. They don't mind being a little root bound and do better with a few roots growing out the pot than having too much space and rotting inside a pot with too much substrate which holds onto too much water.

The general goal with orchid re-potting it to only have to re-pot it once per year, or even longer if possible.

It is always recommended to use Clear Nursery Pots or Clear Net Pots as their roots actually help the plant to photosynthesise! Plus, like other house plants, it helps you keep an eye on what is going on below the pot level and diagnose any issues that may arise easier.

In terms of what substrate to use, never plant your orchids into regular soil mixes! They're far too heavy for your orchid. Always use either Orchid Bark, Tree Fern Fibre or a combination of both. These mimic their natural environment and provide enough drainage and aeration around their roots to keep them thriving!

CONGRATULATIONS! You now have all the knowledge and tools you need to go out there and give growing your first orchid a go!

I know that this blog is a bit of a long one, however I hope that this can be a complete guide you can refer back to if you ever get into any strife with your orchid. Don't forget you can also send us an email or Facebook/Instagram message, we are always happy to help you trouble shoot!

All the best with growing & blooming your orchids!

- The GrowingGreen Team.x

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