Phalaenopsis Orchids: Care and Features

How to prolong the beautiful and bright flowering of phalaenopsis orchids so that you can enjoy its splendor as long as possible? Probably, this is the most common question of anyone who has this exotic plant in the house. It would seem that everything is simple - water properly, and a long and abundant flowering is ensured. Actually this is not true. For the phalaenopsis orchid, nursing should be special, and it consists not only in the timely and competent moistening of the substrate.

Phalaenopsis Orchid: Care, content

These are enough heat-loving plants, so the temperature around them should not be lower than 18 degrees, except for the autumn period, in which the flower buds are laid.

In these 1-2 months, the permissible norm is 16 degrees, and in the rest of the time the temperature comfortable for the plant varies from 22 to 24 degrees.

Orchid loves diffused light, but feels well enough in the back of the room under artificial lighting.

Despite the fact that it comes from the tropics, it is better not to put it on the windowsill under the scorching summer sun, otherwise the plant can get burned.

That is, the comfort zone is moderate lighting and the absence of drafts.

One of the main aspects of the correct maintenance of phalaenopsis orchids - caring for them - is the constant maintenance of moisture around the plant, since excessively dry and hot air is harmful (for example, in winter on the windowsill above the battery) and threatens the appearance of pests.

Spraying should be very shallow so that the water gets on the leaves (the flowers can not be) in the form of dust, and not drops that can slip into the core of the orchid, causing rot. You can regularly wipe the leaves with a clean damp cloth.

Despite the fact that the flower loves constant external moisture, the roots are somewhat different. You can water the orchid in two ways: to arrange a warm shower for 5-10 minutes, like tropical rains, or to dip the pot half in the water for the same time, so that the substrate is completely saturated with water. This should be done as the moisture evaporates completely, and the roots dry out, as the overmoistening causes rotting of the roots and the appearance of the fungus on the phalaenopsis orchid, the care for which provides for one more principle: it is better to dry it than to waterlogge.

Phalaenopsis Orchid: diseases and pests

Just like other plants, orchids are susceptible to various diseases and the appearance of pests, among them: scutes, thrips, nematodes, mites, worms, etc. To prevent their occurrence, it is necessary to regularly wipe the leaves with a clean swab and once a month to shower.

Quite often, the cause of the development of plant diseases is excessive moisture in the pot, because it is a favorable environment for pests.

If this or that disease is found out, it is necessary to process a special solution (in many cases, "Fitoverm" helps).

Sometimes it may be necessary to transplant a plant with the removal of roots and diseased leaves.

A prerequisite for keeping the orchid phalaenopsis is caring for her, love and respect for her. And then, be sure, she will respond with reciprocity, abundant and long flowering.