How to Care for Phalaenopsis Orchids During Bloom
The editor will share some tips on how to care for Phalaenopsis orchids during bloom and the basic knowledge of green plant care for the orchid's blooming period. Here is a comprehensive introduction.
Phalaenopsis orchids are very elegant flowering plants with beautiful flowers and an exceptionally long blooming period. There are many varieties, and they have high ornamental value, although they are relatively expensive per plant. They also require very high humidity.
Under proper care, most varieties of Phalaenopsis orchids can bloom for more than two months. However, even the longest blooming period eventually comes to an end. Many orchid enthusiasts don't know how to care for their Phalaenopsis orchids after blooming, leading to issues like root rot, yellow leaves, or even death.
So, how should we care for Phalaenopsis orchids after blooming? Let's discuss this with fellow orchid enthusiasts, hoping it will be helpful for those in need.
One: Pruning After Blooming
The flower spike of a Phalaenopsis orchid has a certain continuity. What does this mean? It means that the top of a Phalaenopsis orchid spike may continue to grow upwards and produce new flower buds. Therefore, when pruning the spent flowers, it's best not to cut off the spike all at once.
The correct method is to first cut off the spent flowers at the bottom of the spike. Strengthen daily care and moderately fertilize. The spike may continue to grow upwards, differentiate new flower buds, and bloom again, potentially extending the blooming period by half a month to a month.
Until there is no sign of further growth at the top of the spike, or when the environmental temperature is too high, above 30°C, then cut the spike from the base to promote normal growth of the plant;
Two: Replace the Growing Medium
Most Phalaenopsis orchids bought from the market are grown in sphagnum moss, which will gradually decompose during the care process. Generally, after one to two years, the moss will fully decompose. If not replaced, the decomposed moss has poor air permeability and increased water retention, which is not conducive to the growth of the orchid's roots.
After the Phalaenopsis orchid has finished blooming, it's best to check the growing medium to see if the fibers are mostly decomposed. If so, it needs to be replaced promptly. The new moss should be washed in clean water and soaked for about a day to ensure it is free of impurities and contains sufficient moisture.
When replacing the moss for the Phalaenopsis orchid, the technique must be gentle to avoid damaging the roots as much as possible. Also, be careful not to wrap the existing aerial roots with moss; let them be naturally exposed, and don't try to make them become adventitious roots.
How to Care for Phalaenopsis Orchids During Bloom
Three: Suitable Growing Environment
After the Phalaenopsis orchid has finished blooming, whether or not the growing medium is replaced, the care environment needs to be maintained. Avoid direct sunlight and provide bright indirect light. Phalaenopsis orchids require very high humidity in their growing environment, with a minimum humidity of 60%. They struggle to grow well in dry air.
In daily care, increasing the humidity of the small environment is a top priority. Spraying water mist frequently is the simplest and most effective method, especially in summer and winter when there is heating indoors.
Four: Reasonable Water and Fertilizer Management
Phalaenopsis orchids enjoy a humid growing environment, but their roots also require a high amount of oxygen. This means that the orchid's roots should not be soaked in water for too long. The growing medium should have moisture but not too much. Sphagnum moss is good at solving this problem.
After watering the Phalaenopsis orchid, the moss absorbs a lot of water and doesn't easily release it. So when the moss is fully hydrated, gently squeeze it to let out excess water, making sure to be gentle not to hurt the roots. This step is often overlooked by many orchid enthusiasts and is a common reason for root rot.
The frequency of watering is not very important. Water when the moss is dry, or even if it's not dry, watering after the above operation is fine, as long as the moss's air permeability is maintained.
Phalaenopsis orchids are very sensitive to fertilizer, and even slightly higher concentrations are difficult for them to tolerate. Fertilizing Phalaenopsis orchids requires extra caution. A safe practice is to add a small amount of nutrient solution to the water during each watering, with the concentration so low that it's almost negligible.
The type of fertilizer for Phalaenopsis orchids after blooming should aim for comprehensive nutrition. General water-soluble multi-element compound fertilizers are sufficient. Control the concentration, control the concentration, control the concentration—three times. After autumn, a small amount of potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be added to the water to promote bud differentiation.
In summary, under suitable conditions, Phalaenopsis orchids are relatively easy to care for. Many enthusiasts struggle to care for their orchids due to three main reasons: insufficient humidity, excessive or insufficient light, and not knowing how to fertilize. Mastering these three points makes it not difficult to keep Phalaenopsis orchids alive and healthy.
This article shares some tips on how to care for Phalaenopsis orchids during bloom and the experience of caring for the orchid during the blooming period. I hope this article can provide you with some help!