Care & Propagation of Phalaenopsis Orchids

Care

• The moth orchid is an epiphytic plant, which means it does not require soil or potting mix, just a medium to grow on. The medium typically consists of bark, peat moss or an orchid mix that can be bought commercially. Phalaenopsis plants require little water; moistening the growth medium once a week is sufficient. These orchids do best in indirect sunlight and average room temperature; their preferred daytime temperature range is 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, with ideal night temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a water-soluble fertilizer once a month. Repot the orchid approximately once a year.

Issues with Care

• Phalaenopsis orchids are unusual in that they do not possesses the swelling near the base of the plant that other orchids display. The purpose of this swelling is to store excess water. Because of this, Phalaenopsis orchids cannot tolerate excessive moisture. In addition, too much direct sunlight causes the orchid leaves to burn. When repotting your moth orchid, prune away the flowering spikes, dead roots and the aerial roots, which are easily identified by a white outer shell. That prevents these portions of the orchid from decaying in the new potting growth medium.

Propagation

• Moth orchids are most commonly propagated through division cuttings. When repotting, the orchid is divided into two or more plants, depending on the size of the parent orchid. Both the parent plant and the scion plant must retain a new shoot for future growth. Water the new orchid plants thoroughly to promote root establishment. Orchids can also be propagated by a process known as meristem culture, but this is a complex process typically performed in a laboratory. The advantage of purchasing orchids developed by meristem culture is that the plants are sterile upon planting.

Propagation Issues

• When doing division orchid propagation, it is essential to include a new healthy shoot in each portion, or the chances of the new plant being viable are reduced significantly. Minimize the damage to the roots when removing the parent plant from the old pot. Sometimes, if the roots have become extensively attached to the container, it may be necessary to sacrifice the container by breaking or cutting it away. For this reason, it is not advisable to use expensive containers for your moth orchids.