How to care for Phalaenopsis orchids after blooming
The blooming period of Phalaenopsis orchids can last 3-6 months. After the last petal falls, scientific maintenance will directly affect the plant's rejuvenation and the quality of the second blooming. Mastering the following five core techniques will help your Phalaenopsis orchid quickly recover its vitality and store enough energy for the next bloom.
Pruning Management
Pruning Timing and Tool Selection
7-10 days after the flowers fade is the best pruning time. Use a sterilized gardening scissor to make an oblique cut from the second node at the base of the flower stem. Remove withered leaves and empty roots, retaining 3-5 healthy aerial roots. Pay attention to applying carbendazim to the cut to prevent infection.
Bud Promotion Pruning Techniques
Retain 1-2 healthy buds and make a 45-degree oblique cut to stimulate the growth of hidden buds. If the flower stem shows lignification, the entire branch should be cut off to save nutrients.
Light Control
After blooming, gradually increase scattered light, using the "morning light + shading" mode: receive 3 hours of soft light every morning, and use a 60% shade net at noon. LED grow lights are recommended to be set 30cm away from the leaves, with 4 hours of supplemental lighting per day.
Repotting Operation
Substrate Preparation
Use a mixture of moss and pine bark (1:2) as the substrate, adding 5% bamboo charcoal particles to enhance breathability. Soak the substrate in a 2000-fold diluted carbendazim solution for 2 hours before repotting, then squeeze it dry to a "hand-held into a ball, loose when released" state.
Repotting Steps
Gently tap the old pot to remove the plant, trim the decayed roots, and wrap the roots with new substrate in a conical shape. Choose a transparent plastic pot 3-5cm larger than the original pot, which is beneficial for observing the root status.
Nutrition Management
Start applying a liquid fertilizer with N-P-K=20-20-20 two weeks after repotting, diluted 3000 times every 10 days for root irrigation. Combine with spraying seaweed extract (diluted 500 times) to promote new root development. Accumulate 15-20g of slow-release fertilizer within 3 months after blooming.
Environmental Control
Maintain a temperature difference of 25-28°C during the day/18-20°C at night, and keep the air humidity between 60-70%. When using an ultrasonic humidifier, ensure that water droplets do not directly contact the leaf core. Turn on the circulating fan during the high-temperature summer period to maintain air circulation.
Through systematic maintenance, Phalaenopsis orchids can bloom again in 6-8 months. The key is to grasp the five elements of "timely pruning, precise light supplementation, scientific repotting, nutrient supplementation as needed, and environmental control," and adjust the maintenance plan by observing the plant's condition regularly to achieve the continuous healthy growth and annual blooming of Phalaenopsis orchids.