Phalaenopsis is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Orchidaceae family. The stems are very short and are often wrapped in leaf sheaths.

The leaves are slightly fleshy, green on the top and purple on the underside, oval or oblong with either sharp or blunt apexes.

It has a short and wide sheath; the flower color is white, the petals are diamond-shaped and round, and the apex is rounded, the base is narrowed into short claws and has reticulated veins.

The flowering period is from April to June. The name Phalaenopsis, derived from Greek, means 'butterfly-like orchid,' referring to the flower's resemblance to a flying butterfly.

Are Phalaenopsis easy to care for? It’s not difficult. Let an experienced gardener tell you how to grow Phalaenopsis.

Because Phalaenopsis is an epiphytic orchid, its roots do not need to penetrate the soil, so it does not require fertile soil. However, Phalaenopsis has relatively high requirements for the substrate, which needs to be breathable, rot-resistant, slightly acidic, and water-permeable. Therefore, moss, aquatic plants, fern roots, bark, charcoal, ceramsite, etc. can be used when cultivating Phalaenopsis. If soil cultivation is used, some softer soil is needed with better drainage performance.

2. Watering

Phalaenopsis has a relatively large demand for moisture, so it needs a large amount of moisture in the substrate. During the summer growing season, Phalaenopsis orchids require more frequent watering, ideally once a day around 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. In spring and autumn, reduce watering to once a day around 5 p.m.

Winter is the dormant period of Phalaenopsis, so you can water it once every other week, each time at around ten o'clock in the morning. If the cooling temperature is particularly low, you can not water it, keep it dry, and water it again after the temperature rises. Although Phalaenopsis has a large water demand, watering should not be frequent. Too frequent watering will damage the roots of Phalaenopsis.

3. Temperature

Phalaenopsis is native to tropical rainforests, so slightly higher temperatures are more suitable for its growth. The temperature during the day is best controlled between 25-28℃, and at night it needs to be maintained at 18-20℃. The temperature in summer cannot exceed 33°C.

Excessive temperature will cause the Phalaenopsis to be in a semi-dormant state. The minimum temperature in winter cannot be lower than 15°C. When it is lower than 15°C, the Phalaenopsis will stop growing and the roots will stop absorbing nutrients.

If the indoor temperature is too low in winter, the Phalaenopsis should be placed in a sunny place during the day and the frequency of watering should be reduced. It can be bagged with orchids at night. Also, be careful not to place the radiator too close to the flowers.

4. Lighting

Phalaenopsis is a shade-loving plant, so the light needs to be appropriate.

Therefore, the Phalaenopsis should be placed in a place with scattered light to avoid too strong light. However, Phalaenopsis needs sufficient sunlight when it blooms. Appropriate sunlight can promote Phalaenopsis to bloom and make the flowers more colorful and lasting, but it should also avoid direct sunlight.

The flowering period of Phalaenopsis is relatively long, and the overall flowering period can reach 5-6 months. To maximize its flowering period, maintain constant temperature, humidity, and proper ventilation.