Growing gorgeous phalaenopsis at home

Orchid is considered one of the most beautiful ornamental plants. According to many florists, the most luxurious representative of the Orchid family is the famous phalaenopsis. It is possible to distinguish this elegant plant from others by flowers resembling the butterfly wings in shape. They are located on curved long peduncles and open gradually, one after another. Color phalaenopsis can be the most diverse - white, yellow, pink, purple, red and even green. The leaves of this flower are fleshy, arranged in two rows, forming a basal rosette. The roots of the plant are intended to be fixed on any surface and provide the orchid with moisture and nutrients. In this article, we would like to consider how to properly grow phalaenopsis at home. With constant maintenance of favorable climatic conditions, the orchid will produce flower stalks twice a year and delight you with its amazing colors in autumn and spring.

How to choose a healthy flower in the store?

Now there is a large species and hybrid diversity of this plant. Typically, at home, most species are grown such as Phalaenopsis Stewart, Phalaenopsis Pleasant, Phalenopsis Schiller, Phalaenopsis mini pink and Phalaenopsis giant. In order to buy a healthy plant, you must carefully consider its roots: they must be a sufficient number. If an orchid is unstable in a pot, it means that there are few roots or they rot and die. Also, when choosing a plant, you should pay attention to the deciduous mass. In appearance, it should be healthy, without dark spots. After purchase, it is advisable to transplant Phalaenopsis to a new pot with a good substrate for orchids. To carry out the transplant, the plant roots are carefully separated from the vessel walls and washed with warm water, removing the old substrate and, if necessary, pruning the rotten parts. After that, place the orchid in a new container and cover with a substrate so that about 3 cm of space is left to the edge of the pot.

For orchids should only buy a specialized primer, but you can and make it yourself using ingredients such as charcoal, pine bark, sphagnum moss. At the bottom of the pot necessarily placed a layer of drainage (pebbles, pieces of bark, polystyrene). The most practical and convenient capacity for growing epiphytes is a transparent plastic pot with holes in the bottom.

Phalaenopsis at home: lighting and temperature

In principle, for the cultivation of orchids any side will suit, the main thing is that the sun does not fall on the plant itself, especially in the summer and spring periods. On the southern and western windows phalaenopsis should be shaded with blinds or curtains. In winter - when there is a lack of natural light - the plant must be additionally illuminated with lamps, thereby prolonging the light day. Important: the orchid will gradually tilt to the light source, and therefore it is desirable to rotate the pot 180 ° periodically every two weeks, the only condition is that the plant should not be disturbed during the budding period. Phalaenopsis orchid at home prefers a room temperature not lower than 18 ° C, the most comfortable it feels at 22 ° C - 24 ° C. In the autumn period, it is possible to maintain a cooler temperature - about 16 ° C. This is necessary to bookmark the kidneys. It should also be taken into account that phalaenopsis requires a difference between night and daytime values in the range of 6 ° C.

Care of the phalaenopsis flower at home. Watering and top dressing

Typically, it is recommended to water the plant twice a week, moisturizing the substrate well. Between watering the soil mixture must be able to dry out sufficiently. How to water phalaenopsis in winter? Drying of the substrate is allowed in the cold season, so irrigation is less frequent. It is necessary to avoid moistening the soil at sufficiently low night temperatures (10 ° C). Important: you can not water an orchid at night! To moisten the flower, use exceptionally soft, stand-by water, approximated by temperature to room temperature. Your phalaenopsis will not do without regular spraying from the spray. In carrying out this procedure, you need to ensure that water droplets do not fall on the flower spike and growth point, otherwise it can lead to deterioration of the plant's well-being. Remember that it is desirable to spend spraying in the morning or in the afternoon, and not in the evening. As for feeding, the orchid needs a period of vegetation in complex fertilizers. They are diluted in a proportion of about 1 g per 1 liter and make a solution once every 14 days after watering.