How to grow orchids at home phalaenopsis?

The orchid is considered one of the finest ornamental plants. According to many gardeners, the most luxurious representative of the Orchid family is the famous phalaenopsis. You can distinguish this graceful plant from others by the flowers that resemble the wings of a butterfly. They are located on curved long peduncles and open gradually, one after the other. Phalaenopsis can be very diverse in color - white, yellow, pink, purple, red and even green. The leaves of this flower are fleshy, arranged in two rows, forming a basal rosette. The plant's roots are designed to anchor on any surface and provide the orchid with moisture and nutrients. In this article, we would like to consider how to properly grow phalaenopsis at home. With the constant maintenance of favorable climatic conditions, the orchid will produce flower stalks twice a year and delight you with its amazing flowers in autumn and spring.

How to choose a healthy flower in a store?

Now there is a large species and hybrid variety of this plant. As a rule, such species as Phalaenopsis Stewart, Phalaenopsis pleasant, Phalaenopsis Schiller, Phalaenopsis mini pink and Phalaenopsis giant are most often grown at home. In order to buy a healthy plant, you need to carefully consider its roots: there must be a sufficient number of them. If the orchid is unstable in a pot, then there are few roots or they rot and die off. Also, when choosing a plant, you should pay attention to the deciduous mass. It should look healthy, without dark spots. After the purchase, it is advisable to transplant the phalaenopsis into a new pot with a good substrate for orchids. To carry out the transplant, the roots of the plant are carefully separated from the walls of the container and washed with warm water, removing the old substrate and, if necessary, cutting off the rotten parts. After that, the orchid is placed in a new container and covered with substrate so as to leave about 3 cm of space to the edge of the pot.

For orchids, you should buy only specialized soil, but you can also make it yourself using ingredients such as charcoal, pine bark, sphagnum moss. A drainage layer (pebbles, pieces of bark, polystyrene) must be placed on the bottom of the pot. The most practical and convenient container for growing epiphytes is considered to be a transparent plastic pot with holes in the bottom.

Phalaenopsis at home: lighting and temperature

In principle, either side is suitable for growing an orchid, the main thing is that the sun's rays do not fall on the plant itself, especially in summer and spring.On the south and west windows, phalaenopsis should be shaded with blinds or curtains. In winter - with a lack of natural light - the plant must be additionally illuminated with lamps, thereby prolonging the daylight hours. Important: the orchid will gradually tilt towards the light source, and therefore it is advisable to periodically, every two weeks, turn the pot 180 °, the only condition is that the plant should not be disturbed during the budding period. The phalaenopsis orchid at home prefers a room temperature of at least 18 ° C, it feels most comfortable at 22 ° C - 24 ° C. In the autumn, it is possible to maintain a cooler temperature - about 16 ° C. This is necessary to bookmark the kidneys. It should also be borne in mind that phalaenopsis requires a difference between night and day values ​​in the range of 6 ° C.

Phalaenopsis flower care at home. Watering and feeding

It is generally recommended to water the plant twice a week, keeping the substrate well hydrated. Between waterings, the soil mixture should have time to dry out enough. How to water phalaenopsis in winter? In the cold season, the substrate is allowed to dry, so watering is carried out less often. Moisturizing the soil should be avoided at sufficiently low night temperatures (10 ° C). Important: you cannot water the orchid at night! To moisturize the flower, use extremely soft, settled water, close to room temperature. Your phalaenopsis will not do without regular spraying from a spray bottle. When carrying out this procedure, it is necessary to ensure that water droplets do not fall on the peduncle and the growth point, otherwise this can lead to a deterioration in the well-being of the plant. Remember that spraying is advisable in the morning or afternoon, and not in the evening. As for dressing, the orchid needs complex fertilizers during the growing season. They are diluted in a proportion of about 1 g per 1 liter and the solution is added once every 14 days after watering.

Orchid is a flower that is distinguished by its exquisite splendor of flowering. More and more flower growers are happy to add them to their collection. Phalaenopsis is one of the most common species. Caring for her is difficult, but necessary. How to grow this flower at home?

Phalaenopsis features

The orchid itself is a very finicky flower. But there are species that do not require special growing conditions. Phalaenopsis is easy to grow even for a person far from floriculture. Phalaenopsis mini requires the same approach to grooming at home.

Phalaenopsis orchid

The flowering of the orchid is long and very beautiful. The buds and flower are similar to artificial ones due to excessive bright colors and regular shape. The color gamut is very wide from white to black species and blues, which are a rare find. Evidence of this is a photo of orchids.

The choice of phalaenopsis is a very important point. After all, you need to distinguish between the healthy state of phalaenopsis and acquire a young, strong plant.

The orchid should have rich green leaves without damage, color spots, scratches and dry shoots. They are tight and elastic to the touch. The flower should sit firmly in the pot. This is the key to healthy roots. No steams that have crawled out of the ground, no loosening of the flower with the risk of falling out of it.

Growing phalaenopsis at home

This type of orchid is very fond of sunlight. On average, phalaenopsis requires 10 hours of good lighting per day. This will ensure that it properly absorbs moisture, which means that nutrients will be absorbed for the structure.

Phalaenopsis at home

Place the orchid on a windowsill that has sun all day. But not with direct rays, but oblique, scattered ones. Then the flower will be pleased.

Advice. Choose windows for the plant from any side of the world, but not the north. Light is the key to successful flowering, bud formation.If its place is darkened, then the phalaenopsis will simply overgrow with foliage in order to capture as much light as possible.

Also, the usefulness and health of the orchid depends on the amount of light. In a dark room, she is often sick, and soon may die.

Caring for an orchid at home means maintaining a comfortable temperature:

• In order for an orchid to develop well, it needs a temperature in the range of 16-24 degrees.
• Even 28 is allowed in the hot season.
• It is important to ensure the temperature difference between night and day. About 5 degrees. It also greatly affects the flowering result of phalaenopsis.

Advice. To cool the room, you can ventilate the room at night, but do not overdo it. An orchid with a strong drop or a draft runs the risk of getting sick.

In order to successfully take care of the plant, do not forget about the watering regime. The houseplant is very fond of water. Therefore, one must carefully observe so that the soil does not dry out. It is easy to determine: the roots saturated with moisture look dark green, and dry ones - gray.

Watering Phalaenopsis

It is important to know that watering is an unusual procedure.

• Simply pouring water into the ground is a common mistake.
• Moisturize as follows: the flower is immersed in water for 2-5 minutes.
• In the cold season, it is better to reduce the time by 2-3 times. The procedure is done from morning until lunchtime.
• It does not hurt to spray the leaves from a spray bottle at the same time. After all, moisture on the surface will not dry out soon. Therefore, phalaenopsis requires moderate watering.

It is necessary to maintain the flower in its comfortable growing conditions. Do not mix up the muck in a pot. Indoor orchids do not like this attitude. It is better for phalaenopsis to stand for a while in a drought, this is much more useful than flooding.

Make sure that the soil is completely dry. Wait a few days until it dries completely and then repeat the watering. Much also depends on the season, temperature, activity of the plant itself.

Advice. Do not exclude bathing in a phalaenopsis shower once a month with water at room temperature.

Water and fertilizer

What care without proper fertilization and watering? Water should be a nutritious liquid. Purified, distilled will not work. It is good from a natural source that is rich in useful trace elements.

Fertilizers can be additionally dissolved in water. But the concentrated liquid is poured only into a pot with moistened roots so as not to burn them.

Advice. At home, we are used to watering plants with tap water, we do not recommend doing this. Tap water is often oversaturated with salts.

Phalaenopsis copes well with prolonged droughts. But only if the cases are rare, and not regular and prolonged.

It is necessary to provide humidity within the range of 50-80%. Successful plant care requires this. There are several methods of providing:

• Spraying. Spray the phalaenopsis leaves evenly with a spray bottle. The main rule is to moisten the orchid leaf, and not to make a downpour. Drops should not form and flow into the pot. A light moist bloom should appear on the orchid.
• Wet cloth effect. Place a piece of wet cloth on the battery or radiator regularly. Vapors will give the desired result.
• Pot holder. Use a pallet with small pebbles, which you periodically spray generously with water. No need to make a puddle there. Just wet the stones.

In summer, at home, the air in the air is low humidity due to the heat, and in winter - the dry heat of the heating system. As you dry, use the plant's moisture-enhancing techniques.

Pot and soil for phalaenopsis

Choose baskets or baskets in a wicker style made of twigs, bark, twigs, bamboo orchid sticks. They are perfect for growing plants indoors. For filling, choose a mixture of finely chopped bark and moss. This is the ideal substrate for young phelanopsis. The land is not needed, because in the wild it grows on trees. Provide a breathable potting medium for the orchid.

Phalaenopsis pot

A plastic phalaenopsis pot is also available, but not deep. Make large circular holes for moisture in the bottom. Look for a pot without harmful chemicals in the composition.

For a phalaenopsis plant, a transplant is always painful. Especially if the roots have been damaged by thorough cleaning from the old filler.

Therefore, the manipulation of the plant is done as a last resort: when the capacity is completely small for further growth.

1. Carefully select the roots with a large area of ​​the substance from the pot around the roots.
2. Make the branch as far as possible so that the thin phalaenopsis roots are not damaged.
3. After freeing the rhizomes, place the plant in a large container, but do not bury it deeply. Let a small mound stick out. Over time, it will settle and a comfortable position of the orchid will form.

Change the pot of substrate every few years. The fact is that over time, the useful components are washed out, the filler falls off and lays down in a tight, airtight layer. Such an atmosphere is not suitable for phalaenopsis life.

Orchid propagation

On the stem of the phalaenopsis, Pagonians with roots grow. Keep an eye on their growth and development. As soon as they reach a confident size (3-5 cm), separate from the mother branch and plant in a free container.

Orchid propagation

Small Phalaenopsis conditions - 100% humidity. We are waiting for a couple of months until the root system develops and strengthens. Then we transplant it into a large "adult" pot. A method of purely home breeding.

Phalaenopsis diseases and pests

All diseases arise from non-compliance with the rules of maintenance. If the leaves began to form tight and brown crusts, then there was a sunburn. Move the orchid to the shade, and remove the affected foliage.

Signs of orchid disease:

• Soft traces of the same color indicate the presence of fungus. Trim infected phalaenopsis leaves immediately.
• Areas covered with mold - the level of humidity is increased, it is cold in the room, evaporation does not save the situation. Improve the room climate.

The owners complain that there is still no long-awaited flowering, although no diseases have been found. There is only one reason for this - excessive darkening.

Important. It should be remembered that another flower on the windowsill can be the carrier of the disease. Separate flowers from clusters and treat the disease.

Home care involves killing pests. Small parasites can shorten the lifespan of your orchid. Prolonged dry conditions with low humidity are a great atmosphere for mites. They can be detected by white spots on the lower sheets, which later acquire a yellowish tint.

Scorm is another living threat. If you find small, cotton-like lumps on your pet, then you have malicious guests. Spraying will help you get rid of them, the mixture for which is sold in the public domain.

Slugs, worms that accidentally got into the composition of the flower are also not the best gift. Such cases occur if you collected the substrate yourself. There is nothing to worry about here. The main thing is to use the mixture without strangers in it.

You can also catch them manually. Leave a piece of fragrant fruit in the pot overnight. Turn off the lights, and after a couple of hours you can turn the lights back on and check the bait. If there were slugs, then they all crawl out for a night meal.

Flowering period

The orchid will please the eye for proper care and water procedures for several months or more (even six months). Quite a long time for a room dweller.

Orchid bloom

During this period, you can occasionally feed the rhizomes, although this is not a mandatory approach. It is more relevant after flowering.

Advice. If you replace watering by spraying the substrate and put the plant in a dark place, then it will bloom faster. Of course, this is not done at the moment when you want to. And at a biologically suitable time.

Further care

• Pruning peduncles.You should not act at your own discretion. When the buds have completely faded, the peduncle has dried up completely, then wield the scissors over the phalaenopsis. Only dead spots and parts can be surgically removed. Otherwise, harm the felenopsis after flowering.
• Protruding roots. Roots protruding from the soil are not a signal to be buried back. Observe the condition of the flower. The root may be ready to die off, which it will do in the near future. Your task is to wait for the root to die off completely and carefully remove the dead part to a green area. Such processes are natural and beneficial for phalaenopsis.
• Leaf hygiene. Remember to wipe down the sheets regularly. To do this, you need to get a piece of soft cloth. After wetting in warm water, wipe the surface, and the phalaenopsis will be grateful.

By following simple guidelines, your phalaenopsis will never cease to amaze you. Caring for a plant at home takes energy, but it's worth it. Just remember, caring care is what your orchid will always be happy about.

Phalaenopsis landing (video)

Phalaenopsis Orchid is a tropical flower known for its beauty all over the world. It is the most common houseplant today.... The largest number of buyers choose this particular flower. Their diversity is the main decoration of flower shops, as well as apartments and houses.

Description of the Phalaenopsis orchid

The reason for this popularity is very beautiful appearance of the flower, as well as care that does not require much diligence, due to the fact that this species is much easier and easier to grow in living quarters in comparison with other epiphytes. They belong to epiphytes due to the fact that in the environment, in most cases, they live on the surfaces of trees or rocky rocks.

Phalaenopsis orchid in the wild

For the first time this flower was "discovered" by a German scientist on the island of the Moluccan complex, he noticed it through binoculars, and at first it seemed to him that it was a butterfly, because of this, it has the name Phalaenopsis, which means "resembling a moth"... People who are engaged in floriculture, and today often use the name "butterflies-orchids" for these flowers.

Species diversity

The plant has many types, there are about 70 main varieties, and the hybrid is an incredible amount that cannot be combined into any catalog, so that it would contain all the existing colors and shades that exist today.

There are two types of these flowers: standard, which can reach a length of about a meter, and miniature, which does not grow more than 30 centimeters.

Phalaenopsis bloom 2-3 times a year for 2-3 months... The color of the flowers is very varied, from white to dark purple. Orchids have rounded roots up to half a centimeter in diameter, leaves are firm, smooth and leathery green.

Plant care at home

Substrate selection

Choosing a substrate for an orchid is a very difficult decision, since the conditions under which the plant is kept at home are very different from natural ones. And as we already know, their natural habitat is tropical forests, the climate of which is almost impossible to display at home.

Ready substrate for Phalaenopsis orchid

The main component that is used in the substrate for Phalaenopsis is the bark... Pieces of medium-sized bark should be placed at the bottom of the pot, and small pieces of bark should be placed in the middle and on top. In order for the bark to retain water, before transplanting it must be soaked for a couple of days for impregnation, then drain the water and rinse with clean water. Also, if the humidity in the room is low, sphagnum moss is added along with the bark, mixing them together. Another important factor is the absence of peat in the substrate.

Pot selection

In order for the condition of the substrate and roots of the orchid to be under your visual control, the pot you need to choose transparent... The size of the pot is also important.

If the pot is large, then excessive moisture can lead to rotting of the roots, and too small a pot can injure the Phalaenopsis root system.

Watering

A very good indicator of the presence or absence of moisture is the color of the roots. If the roots are green or light green, then you do not need to water the orchid, and if their color changes to light gray, this is a signal for watering.... You do not need to spare the water when watering; pour in such an amount of water at which the roots will turn green. Also, watering time comes when the substrate dries up and the pot becomes light. Another sign of a dry flower may be leaf lethargy.

Dry and brown roots of the Phalaenopsis orchid indicate insufficient watering

Always consider the temperature of the water, it should not be cold or hot, only at room temperature. Water hardness is also important, it is better to use boiled or rain.

To ensure that after watering there is no excess water left, you need to twist the pot by tilting it in different directions, which will help the excess water drain and not stagnate.

Over time, orchid owners get used to the peculiarities of watering and do it without much effort and problems.

Illumination

For proper development and systematic flowering of the orchid, lighting is one of the main factors. Given the changing seasons in our habitats, it is very difficult to provide a plant with uniform, suitable lighting. therefore it is advisable to change the location of flowers throughout the year: in winter and autumn, it is better to place them on the south and west windows, and in the spring and summer - on the east and light north.

If there is not enough light, artificial lighting should be used.

If the orchid does not receive sufficient lighting through the window, you need to use artificial light lamps, which can be, for example, special phytolamps. It is not recommended to use them constantly, but only in the evening from 6 to 10 pm.

Temperature

The temperature regime for phalaenopsis should not change due to changes in the season and weather conditions.

The ideal temperature is +25 degrees. And in winter not lower than +20.

If the difference between night and day temperatures does not exceed 5 degrees - Phalaenopsis will consistently give new flower buds.

Humidity

Phalaenopsis, which grow at home, are not very demanding on high humidity. Humidity from 40 to 70% suits them perfectly... On hot days in the summer, as well as when the heating in the house is turned on, this figure may be lower, and this can lead to the fact that the growth of the plant stops, the flowers and buds dry out, and the leaves turn yellow.

In this case, you need to increase the humidity of the air using humidifiers. You can also use a container with water or wet expanded clay, which is poured into a large pallet, covered with a grate and installed under the pots with orchids.

Top dressing

Complex feeding for Phalaenopsis orchids

For feeding the roots, a special feeding for orchids is used. This procedure must be carried out during flowering. In summer, the frequency of feeding is 2 times a month, in winter - once a month.

The feeding procedure depends on the chosen fertilizer, it can be root and foliar.

Video about the care of the Phalaenopsis orchid after purchase

Transfer

The Phalaenopsis orchid transplant should be timely, often and without an obvious reason, this procedure does not make sense, and what is worse - it can harm the plant. The frequency of transplanting a flower should not exceed 1 time in two to three years..

An important condition for the transplant is the observance of the sequence of the transplant stages. The first thing to do is to get the flower out of the pot.... To do this without violating the integrity of the flower, you need to wrinkle the pot a little, if this does not help, then you need to cut the pot, remove the flower and put it in a basin or other convenient container. After that we rinse the root system and cut off the spoiled parts of the roots, and also remove the remnants of the old substrate. Do not forget about the disinfection of the instrument, which removes unnecessary root areas, and the disinfection of the cut sites. It is recommended to remove not only unnecessary root areas, but also yellow leaves and dry peduncles.

Step-by-step instructions for transplanting Phalaenopsis orchids

After the performed operations and making sure that there is no residual water left on the flower, we leave it to dry. Drying time depends on the air temperature, but it is best to do this at night.

The latest orchid transplant procedure it will be placed in a pot with new soil and the first watering after transplantation.

Reproduction methods

Orchid propagation can be done not only by experienced flower growers, but also by amateurs who have a lot of information about this process.

There are three ways to propagate a plant:

Children

Phalaenopsis orchid baby

It is the simplest and most common. This procedure is carried out in the first half of the calendar year, a month after flowering. Children appear on the peduncles and the bases of the outlet, which take root over time, they can be transplanted into other pots. You can both immediately place the baby in the ground, and keep it in water to the base of the roots with further transplantation into the ground.

Cuttings

It is best used in greenhouse conditions. In this case, pruning shears with treated alcohol cut off the faded orchid at the base and divide into several parts... A dormant bud should be present in the center of the cuttings, and it is better to treat the cuts with charcoal powder.

In order for the cuttings to germinate, at a temperature of about +25 degrees, we plant them in moistened sphagnum.

Socket division

First you need prepare the soil with a mixture of moss and barkwhich should not be important in order to avoid the formation of mold. Cut off the top of the orchid with several leaves and roots and place it in a pot with prepared soil. The instrument used for cutting must be sterile, and the sections must be treated with ash.

Video about the reproduction of the Phalaenopsis orchid by dividing the bush

Pruning

To properly prune an orchid, you need to adhere to some rules. Be sure to make sure that the peduncle is completely dry and yellow, if you cut it off earlier, then new flowers will not appear soon, since it will take time to recover. You need to remove it so that a small stump remains at the base.

In the event that buds appear on the peduncle, before it wilted, from which new flowers or children may appear in the future, then you need cut it off a couple of centimeters above these formations... The stem is completely removed, which has no buds and is completely spoiled. After that, it is advisable to transplant the plant.

Diseases and pests

In many plants, diseases are caused by improper or insufficient care. Phalaenopsis is no exception.

Phalaenopsis orchid leaf disease

The most common for her is excessive humidity, especially at low temperatures.... The plant is affected by rot, which must be removed and the flower transplanted into new soil without watering. If watering is not enough, then the leaves may dry out, and the plant may also be affected by pests, such as scale insects or aphids, which are destroyed both by preparations sold in flower shops and solutions prepared at home.

Video for beginners about the Phalaenopsis orchid

Herbaceous plants belonging to the Orchid family.They are represented by epiphytic (plants that live without connection with the soil, most often on another plant, receiving nutrients from the environment) and lithophytic (plants that need rocky or rocky terrain for life) forms. Epiphytes predominate among phalaenopsis.

In nature, phalaenopsis lives in the humid tropics of Indonesia, Australia, Southeast Asia, the Philippine Islands.

General information about Phalaenopsis

Literally translated from Greek, Phalaenopsis sounds like "moth-like". This is not surprising, because the flowers of this unusual plant are shaped like a flying tropical moth or butterfly. The variety of colors is amazing. Even if you set out to collect orchids of all existing colors and shades at home, it will take a lot of time to achieve it. But even one or more phalaenopsis can significantly decorate your home and give you positive emotions from contemplating their indescribable beauty.

How to choose Phalaenopsis?

So, you have decided to please yourself with the purchase of this beautiful plant. What should be considered when choosing an orchid?

• It is desirable to acquire the plant during the flowering period. Then you can choose the color you like or lack in your collection.
• You should pay attention to the leaves: in a healthy plant, they are dark green, fleshy, with a waxy sheen. Flowers with damaged, dry or discolored leaves are best left in the store.
• Phalaenopsis roots are green and powerful. If you move a healthy flower in a pot, the roots will sit tightly in the substrate. If the root system of the orchid suffers, then the roots will be sluggish and mobile.

Choosing a location and temperature

So you bought your phalaenopsis and now he needs home care after the store. In order for the flower to be comfortable, you need to choose the right place where it will live and choose the temperature regime, since it directly depends on whether the orchid will please you with flowering or not.

Phalaenopsis is very fond of light, so you need to keep it in well-lit places, for example, on window sills. But it should be remembered that direct sunlight can cause burns to the plant. Therefore, it is better to put them on the east or west side. If in your house the windows face south, you can make a shelf, place it near the window and put the phalaenopsis there.

There are some peculiarities regarding the temperature regime. To stimulate the flowering process, you need to create a temperature gradient: in the summer, maintain 24-26 degrees, and in winter, reduce the temperature to 15-17 degrees for a couple of weeks. The flower will withstand 30–32 degrees, but if such numbers hold for a long time, your phalaenopsis will react to this by dropping its beautiful flowers and wilting leaves.

With proper home care, the phalaenopsis orchid will delight you with flowering from 3 to 6 months.

Choosing the right substrate and pot

In order for the Phalaenopsis orchid to feel good, home care should mean a responsible approach to choosing a pot and soil in which it will grow.

Phalaenopsis needs a substrate to give a stable vertical position, since. in nature, the flower is watered with tropical rains and from the bottom, when moisture diffuses through the leaves, it receives nutrients. Phalaenopsis roots are called aerial roots and do not need to be constantly in water. Therefore, especially for them, there is a substrate for sale, consisting of bark, which provides constant air access to the root system of the flower. If there is insufficient humidity in the room, a little sphagnum moss can be added to the substrate, however, the main thing here is not to overdo it, as it will retain water.

It is better to choose a transparent pot, then the state of the substrate and plant roots will always be under your visual control. Pot size matters: if it is large for phalaenopsis, then the soil will not dry out well, which will eventually lead to rotting of the roots. And too small a pot size will lead to permanent trauma to the root system. For aesthetics, you can place a transparent pot in a multi-colored planter, although the sight of a healthy and blooming orchid will attract all eyes.

Humidity and watering

In order for the orchid to grow and delight its owner with it air humidity is required in the range of 30-40%... If the air temperature exceeds the comfortable temperature for phalaenopsis, the flower pot can be placed on a pallet with wet rubble or pebbles. But do not forget that with excessive moisture, the roots may begin to rot.

Watering or "Bathing" the phalaenopsis is a kind of ritual, which allows you to provide the flower with proper care. You should always have standing water or rainwater close at hand. The water temperature for bathing an orchid at home should be slightly above room temperature — approximately 26–8 degrees.

Into a container filled with prepared water it is necessary to immerse the pot with the plant for 20–45 minutes to sufficiently saturate the substrate with moisture. After bathing, place the phalaenopsis pot on a tray or recessed dish so that excess moisture is removed through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Stagnation of moisture around the roots of phalaenopsis should not be allowed.

This ritual should be performed once a week. But if the temperature in the room where the orchid grows is above 30 degrees, you need to do it 2 times a week.

How to transplant phalaenopsis correctly?

The orchid is transplanted no more often than once every three years. This is best done in the spring.... But it may also be that the plant will need a transplant immediately after you bring it from the store. It is advisable to do this when the orchid stops blooming.

For transplanting, it is better to use a new substrate, but if this is not possible, then the old one will do. Rinse it thoroughly, boil it and dry it completely.

Phalaenopsis must be removed from the pot, the roots must be cleaned of soil residues. Then his nit's good to see and if so, remove yellowed leaves and spoiled roots. The cut sites should be treated with an antiseptic. You can use scissors to cut off unusable parts of the plant.

If there are no holes in the bottom of the pot where you will transplant the orchid, you need to do them yourself... Then a layer of expanded clay is laid on the bottom, which will perform a drainage function. Place the flower in the center and sprinkle it evenly with the substrate, not forgetting that the roots must have access to air.

Conditions under which the orchid will bloom

• Control of air humidity in the room where the phalaenopsis lives. Humidify if necessary, since humidity is often lowered in summer.
• Adequate lighting is required, but not in direct sunlight.
• Temperature fluctuations should be minimal, with the exception of lowering it to stimulate the flowering process.
• Try to refrain from rearranging the orchid pot from place to place.

It is difficult to single out the main condition, since the observance of all of them in the complex leads to the desired result.

After the cessation of flowering, Phalaenopsis needs special care... In order for the flowers to appear again and again, you need to give the plant a rest. For this, the peduncle is cut to the third bud or remains intact. When the orchid is ready to bloom again, it will eject a new flower stalk.

How to propagate domesticated phalaenopsis?

Once you realize that home orchid care is pretty simple, you may be tempted to try breeding your pets. There is nothing difficult here either, but you need to be patient.

With a careful examination of the peduncle, it is necessary to determine the presence of dormant buds. To awaken her you need a temperature regime of 24-29 degrees... A semicircular incision is made with a sharp object in the area of ​​the base of the kidney scales and it is removed with tweezers. The exposed kidney is treated with cytokine paste and covered with a piece of sphagnum.

After 4-6 weeks one or more cubs can be observed on the plant with two or three tiny leaves. The number of babies depends on how many kidneys you have treated. But it should be remembered that more than one should not be processed on one plant, since it can give all its strength to the children, and itself perish.

At the end of 3-4 months, the cubs have the first roots. Once they get strong and reach a length of at least two centimeters, cut the young orchid with a piece of the mother's and transplant it into a separate pot. Cover the roots with moss to protect them from drying out. If there is insufficient air humidity in the room where the young flower will grow, you can make a greenhouse from a plastic bag. Further care is the same as for the rest of the phalaenopsis.

Choosing fertilizers

Another prerequisite for ensuring decent care is the correct fertilization, since this is essential.

• In order for the plant to easily release new leaves, it is necessary to use complex fertilizers, with a greater proportion of nitrogen in them. But you should know when to stop, so as not to overdo it, since the massive build-up of leaves prevents flowering. To correct this oversight, you should stop feeding.
• And now there are enough leaves. Now you can spur Phalaenopsis to flowering, feeding it with fertilizer with a higher content of potassium and phosphorus than nitrogen. The mixture should be added until the flowering process begins.
• For phalaenopsis orchids, ready-made liquid dressings are often used, so there is no need to prepare them on their own.
• In summer, plants should be fertilized on average twice a month, and in winter once.

Observing simple conditions and guided by the rules of caring for phalaenopsis, you can grow at home a whole greenhouse of fabulously beautiful flowers that will not leave anyone indifferent.