Hilltop's Variety Spotlight

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Phalaenopsis Orchids

These beautiful orchids are one of the easiest houseplants to grow given adequate light. Their bloom cycle usually starts in late winter (just in time for Valentine’s Day!) and will last for months! The more common bloom colors are in the white to pink to purple shades, though “art shades” of yellow, peach, and reddish are also available. Blooms may be a solid color, spotted, striped, or blotched. Most Phals are not fragrant, but those with P. violacea genetics are very fragrant on warm, sunny days.

Native to: the Philippines and southern Asia.

Trivia: Phalaenopsis means “looks like a moth” hence the common name “Moth Orchid”.

Light & Location:
Direct but filtered light. A south or west window with a sheer or an east window without a sheer is ideal. Do not place the plant or flowers in direct path of air movement from a heater or air conditioner.

Temperature:
Minimum - 60 degrees F. Maximum - 90 degrees F. If you are comfortable, they are.

Humidity:
Misting is not necessary.

Watering & Feeding:
Water when the top of the moss is slightly crispy. If in doubt, wait one day. Do not allow to dry to the wilt stage. Feed every 3rd watering at 1/2 strength, using a complete soluble fertilizer.

Re-Blooming:
When flowers on a spike have all faded and fallen off, cut the spike off just on the plant-side of where the 1st (lowest) bloom was. It will usually re-spike and bloom again.

Re-Potting:
Re-pot just after blooming is over and all blooms have fallen off (usually July – August). New Zealand sphagnum is our recommendation.

Variety Spotlight #1, 2/20/2008 © Hilltop Farm

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