Phalaenopsis Orchid Care

Quick care guide

Light and placement

Bright indirect light; leaves should not be heated by strong midday sun. Place the plant where it can remain stable rather than moving it repeatedly. Watch the newest growth: smaller leaves, stretching or leaning usually mean the plant needs more usable light, while pale scorched patches can follow sudden exposure to strong sun.

Window direction is only a starting clue. Distance from glass, curtains, nearby buildings, trees and seasonal sun angle can change light dramatically. Move the plant gradually when increasing exposure.

Watering and roots

Water when roots turn silvery and the medium approaches dryness, then drain completely. Water thoroughly when the plant’s root zone is ready, then let excess leave the drainage hole. Empty cachepots and saucers. A plant in lower light, a larger pot or a moisture-retentive mix will usually dry more slowly than the same species in warm bright conditions.

Orchid bark or another airy orchid medium, never ordinary dense potting soil. Repot only when roots are crowded, the mix has decomposed, or drainage behaviour has changed. A modest increase in pot size is safer than surrounding a small root system with a large volume of wet mix.

Growth, pruning and propagation

Leaves from a central crown and flowering spikes. Prune with clean tools and remove only damaged or unwanted growth. Cleaning leaves helps you notice pests and allows light to reach the surface.

Propagation: Occasional plantlets called keikis; home propagation is otherwise slow.

Common problems

Crown rot from trapped water, shrivelled roots from drought, and root loss in decomposed medium. Diagnose by checking soil moisture, root condition, light and recent changes before adding fertilizer or pesticide. Damaged leaves may not recover, so judge improvement by healthy new growth.