Phalaenopsis

Lighting: diffuse light is required. In home conditions an east or southeast window or a spot about one meter from it is ideal. Does not tolerate direct sunlight. In winter it needs supplemental lighting to extend the day length to 12-16 hours. Phalaenopsis also grow well under artificial light.

Watering: Phalaenopsis do not have a clearly defined dormancy period. They grow and flower well year-round under indoor conditions. Therefore watering is required throughout the year. Use only distilled or boiled water for watering, as the plant does not tolerate substrate salinization. It is recommended to flush water through the substrate several times so that the bark soaks up the necessary moisture. You can also immerse the pot in a basin of water for 10-20 minutes. Watering is done as the substrate dries out (approximately once a week).

Fertilization: feed with a special orchid fertilizer or a complete mineral fertilizer once every 1-2 weeks. For improved flowering when the inflorescence is forming, a potassium-phosphorus fertilizer can be applied.

Air humidity: it is recommended to spray daily with distilled or boiled water, avoiding the flowers. Optimal humidity 50-80%.

Repotting: is done once a year after flowering in late spring or summer. When repotting it is necessary to soak the plant in water for a few minutes, then carefully remove it from the pot. After that, clean the roots from the old substrate and remove rotting, dead or soft roots (cut only the damaged part of the root back to healthy tissue – green or white). Tools must be disinfected before work, and cut surfaces treated with special agents (antiseptics not containing alcohol, dust with cinnamon, crushed activated charcoal powder, garlic solution or sulfur; iodine or brilliant green are not recommended). After this it is necessary to remove old and yellow leaves, as well as yellowing or drying inflorescences. After these procedures the plant should be dried before planting into a new pot.

Planting: the plant should be planted in a special orchid substrate. The substrate can also be prepared yourself – 70% conifer bark, 10% peat, 10% charcoal, 10% sphagnum. Before planting the substrate is recommended to disinfect (boil for 4-5 min)

Propagation: at home propagation is carried out by separating side shoots – "keikis" that have grown from dormant buds on the stem or inflorescence. When the keikis have at least 3 roots of 4-5 cm each, they can be removed from the mother plant and planted in a separate pot. Large plants with many aerial roots can also be divided into parts. Such division is recommended only if you are sure that live buds remain on the lower part of the stem. Meristem (cloning) and seed propagation are also used.