Phalaenopsis Orchids - How to Care for Moth Orchids

Phalaenopsis orchids have flowers shaped like a moth70 degrees at all times.
or butterfly. This is the reason they are commonlyWater
referred to as moth orchids. Sometimes, they canWith the exception of their leaves, Phalaenopsis
bloom for longer than three months. If you're lookingorchids don't have any organs to store water.
to try your hand at raising one of these plants, youTherefore, proper watering is crucial to their health.
will be happy to know it's one of the easiest orchidsThe potting medium that you use to grow your plant
to care for.in will determine how often you should water. Many
Lightpeople choose to use a peat mixture. When the top
These plants need bright, indirect sunlight. It'sinch of this mixture is dry, you know it's time for
important that you don't expose the leaves tomore water.
strong direct sunlight. The leaves should have a brightAnother popular option for potting medium is tree
green color. If they are dark green, then you needbark taken from fir trees. This bark is popular
to give the plant more light. Yellowish-green leaves isbecause there's less risk of over-watering. Make sure
an indicator that the plant is receiving too much light.you always water the plant in the morning. This will
Temperatureallow the leaves to dry off before night so no
Moth orchids are sensitive to temperaturediseases develop. Also, make sure not to water the
fluctuations, but do better in higher rather than lowercenter of the plant which can cause crown rot.
temperatures. It's best to keep the temperatureHumidity
between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. You shouldn'tMoth orchids like humidity between 55 and 75%. If
expose the orchid to temperatures lower than 60the humidity level drops below 50%, the flowers and
degrees or higher than 90 degrees. While the plant isbuds may drop prematurely. You can use a standard
blooming, you should keep the temperature abovecool air humidifier to achieve the proper levels.