Phalaenopsis Culture

In this post I'll attempt to tell you how I grow and flower Phaleanopsis in the home.

First a bit of background to explain why the treatment of these plants is somewhat different from “normal” house plants.

In nature phaleanopsis are generally epiphytes, hanging upside down with roots like sphagetti over the surface of branches, in moss or leaf litter. The plants have adapted to having a compost with a lot more air in it than normal ground plants, with a very low level of mineral salts.

In cultivation Phaleanopsis require a very open compost, either based on bark, but it can be stones or even foam chunks. The main function of the compost is to give the plant something to hang onto.

Phaleanopsis need fresh air in the compost. The way you achieve that is by pouring water through the compost, this forces stale air out – and as the water drains out it sucks new air in. So you can pour a pint or two through when you water them. If you pour the water in like that, it should pour out almost immediately come back out again. Don’t allow plants to stand in water.

The pot must have drainage holes, and the compost very free draining, if you use normal plant pots you might want to add extra holes in the side of the pot.

Because tap water will tend to have salts, chlorine etc it is better to use rainwater if you can. If you have to use tap water, filtered and then allowed to stand for 24hrs (to lose the chlorine). The water should be tepid, not cold.

Water once a week.

Use orchid feed, if you can get the flower fertilizer and growth fertilizer all the better. I feed for 3 weeks in the month and give them a week off – this is used to flush out any salts building up from the fertilizer.

Phaleanopsis like  a bright position, but no direct sun. Some will be ok in quite dark situations but they may not flower as much.

Make sure they are not in drafts, avoid places where it gets cold at night – so although a north facing window might be ideal, bear in mind close to windows can get cold (especially if you close curtains).

Avoid fruit . Yes really, it causes the flower buds to drop, because of the ethylene. Gas Fires are not good either. Putting them over a radiator is likely to dry them out.

They like warm and fairly humid. Planters with damp stones can help with the humidity – but don’t let them stand in water. Don’t get water on the leaves (especially in the centre) – if you due use a kitchen towel to just suck up the drops.

If it stops flowering but the stalk remains green, I leave it. If it goes brown at the end just cut it back to the little leaf/bud on the stem. The reason is they often then flower again from old stalks.

Pictures from the top: Phal Cordova, Phal mariae, Phal Brother Princess.