Phalaenopsis orchid blooming at home. Phalaenopsis - the quivering moth orchid

Phalaenopsis is so beloved by gardeners due to the extraordinary beauty of its flowers. During flowering, the plant can be strewn with flowers of the following shades:

• yellow;
• lilac;
• violet;
• red cherry;
• white.

During this period, phalaenopsis flowers resemble butterfly wings, which are frozen on a dark green, durable stem.

The peculiarity of phalaenopsis is its long flowering. It lasts from December to June. In addition, caring for the flower during this time and after flowering is completely easy. The beauty of phalaenopsis during the flowering period is literally mesmerizing. The plant will be an excellent decor for greenhouses, rooms, and winter gardens.

How to care for an orchid?

Inspection

Since phalaenopsis is grown in a transparent container, after flowering, carefully examine the condition of the root system. If there are dry or rotting parts, remove them with scissors and treat the cut areas with an antiseptic.

Roots that are gray or green in color are considered healthy. The leaves and stem are also subject to inspection. If they have spotting and other unhealthy symptoms, then it is better to get rid of them. This will prevent the flower from becoming completely infected.

In order for phalaenopsis to be strong and healthy, and also to be able to recover after flowering, certain rules must be followed when watering:

Top dressing

Fertilizers for phalaenopsis are vital, both before and after flowering. Just apply them after flowering is completed in a dosage reduced by 2 times. And although the orchid itself is capable of obtaining the microelements it needs from the environment. But regular addition of nutrients promotes rapid growth and abundant flowering in the future.

Apply flower food every 3rd watering. To do this, use special complex fertilizers intended for phalaenopsis. After flowering, nutrient mixtures containing high concentrations of phosphorus and potassium are important for the flower, but the amount of nitrogen there should be minimal.

Temperature

For phalaenopsis there is no need to specifically regulate the temperature in the apartment. It’s as if it was specially created for this plant. In the warm season, the temperature should be 22-25 degrees Celsius, and in the cold season - 18-20 degrees.

Attention! Night and day temperatures should differ by at least 5 degrees. This will stimulate the plant to flower again and set buds.

But you cannot lower the temperature for a long time, otherwise cracks and dents will appear on the leaves from the cold. The flower reacts positively to fresh air. So in winter, ventilate the room, avoiding drafts.

Humidity

Phalaenopsis does not have any special requirements for high air humidity. You can grow them in an ordinary apartment. Humidity can vary between 40-70%.

If the indicators are low, the plant may droop, the color of its leaves will change, and the flowers will dry out and fall off. A similar phenomenon occurs during the heating season or during the summer heat. To increase humidity, wet expanded clay is suitable, humidify the air or containers with water placed near the plant.

For phalaenopsis after flowering, you need to choose a place where there will be some diffused light. The flower should not be exposed to direct sunlight. If there is enough lighting, the orchid will grow long and abundantly. Otherwise, the leaves wither, stretch out, become light green and turn yellow.

In summer, when intense light radiation is observed, domestic phalaenopsis require spawning. This will allow the flower to adapt well after the winter period, and its leaves will not get sunburned. For application, use transparent plastic or matte film.

In autumn, darkening is not required, as the length of daylight hours decreases. During this period, new flower buds are formed and shoots ripen. So you will have to extend the duration of daylight hours so that it is 20 hours. Lamps with fluorescent lamps.

Possible problems

If the phalaenopsis is not properly cared for after flowering, a delay in the next flowering occurs (you can find out about the reasons for the lack of flowering, and we told you how to make an orchid bloom in this case). In some cases, the leaves wilt and even the entire plant dries out. This is observed due to the fault of the grower. The most common mistakes orchid care at home:

• removing the peduncle before it dries;
• very short (less than 2 cm) trimming of the arrow;
• too much and frequent application of fertilizers;
• location on an overly lit window.

When and how should it be replanted?

Replanting phalaenopsis is required when its roots overfill the pot. You will have to place the flower in a large container. Carry out such events no more than once every 2-3 years.

Procedure:

1. Water the plant thoroughly before replanting.
2. Carefully remove the flower so as not to damage the root system. Orchids are adversely affected by damage to the roots when transplanting during dormancy.
3. Transplant the flower into a new pot with new nutrient soil.
4. During the transplantation process, the voids formed near the roots do not need to be compacted. This will minimize their damage.
5. Do not water the transplanted crop for 5 days. This time will be enough for the wounds on the roots to dry out and heal.

Phalaenopsis blooms very beautifully and profusely. Such beauty and abundance of colors literally takes your breath away. But this is largely the merit of the florist, who carefully and regularly cares for the flower. So This beauty should only be owned by those who can give her care, attention and proper care.

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Phalaenopsis flowers (lat. Phalaenopsis)- herbaceous plants of the Vanda tribe of the Orchid family, native to the rainforests of Australia, Southeast Asia and the Philippines. Phalaenopsis orchids are mostly epiphytes because they grow on trees, but sometimes they also grow on rocks. The first phalaenopsis on one of the Moluccas islands was discovered by the German naturalist Georg Rumph, but the flower received its name from Karl Blum, director of the Leiden Botanical Garden, who, looking at the exotic orchid through binoculars, mistook it for a butterfly, and therefore called it phalaenopsis - “like a moth.” And to this day, flower growers call these flowers “butterfly orchids.”

The Phalaenopsis genus has about seventy species. The phalaenopsis flower, which is sold in flower shops, is incredibly popular not only because of its exquisite and extraordinary beauty, but also because growing and maintaining phalaenopsis does not cause trouble and does not require costs.

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Planting and caring for phalaenopsis (in brief)

• Bloom: any time from 2 to 6 months.
• Lighting: bright diffused light (windows of western, eastern or north-eastern orientation) or light partial shade.
• Temperature: maximum – 42 ˚C, minimum – 12 ˚C, comfortable – within 15-25 ˚.
• Watering: after the soil has completely dried.
• Humidity: 30-40% with good ventilation of the room.
• Feeding: solution of complete mineral fertilizer weekly.
• Rest period: not clearly expressed.
• Transfer: as the substrate sours and cakes, approximately once every 2-4 years.
• Reproduction: vegetatively (by side shoots).
• Pests: mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, scale insects, slugs.
• Diseases: fusarium, rust, anthracnose, spotting, black, brown, gray and root rot.

Read more about growing phalaenopsis below.

Phalaenopsis orchid - growing features

Any plant has its own preferences, and even more so for such a rare flower in our latitudes. The peculiarities of growing phalaenopsis are due precisely to the fact that they come from humid mountain and lowland forests, where they grow on trees, and therefore require a microclimate, which must be created artificially in our homes.

Here are some features of phalaenopsis:

• the pot and soil in which the phalaenopsis grows are required almost exclusively as support;
• Phalaenopsis roots should be in the air and in the light;
• Phalaenopsis roots are green, in nature they receive moisture and rainwater from the atmosphere, and food comes from the bark of the trees on which the flower grows. The roots participate in photosynthesis, so they must be exposed to light;
• In addition to ordinary roots, phalaenopsis has aerial roots that branch in constant search for food, so make sure that they do not climb into neighboring pots.

The succulent leaves of phalaenopsis, arranged in two rows, form a basal rosette. Peduncles are long, curved, butterfly flowers are collected in racemose inflorescences. The variety of colors is amazing: purple, lilac, white, yellow, green and red, brown... Often the lip of a flower stands out against the background of the petals (plain, tiger, mesh or striped) with a contrasting color. Phalaenopsis, like vandas and dendrobiums, are monopodial orchids, that is, they do not form bulbs.

The most pleasant feature of phalaenopsis is that they do not have a pronounced dormant period: their flowers bloom twice a year - in spring and autumn, although persistent flower growers achieve three blooms.

Caring for phalaenopsis at home

How to care for phalaenopsis

Caring for phalaenopsis consists of choosing a place for the flower, properly organized watering, fertilizing, temperature conditions and protection from pests and diseases. It is best to place a pot of phalaenopsis on a western, eastern or north-eastern window sill.

If this is not possible, and you have to place the orchid on the south side, place it on a table near the window, behind a curtain that creates a light shadow - direct sunlight leaves burns on the plant that look like spots on the leaves and flowers of phalaenopsis. Every 2-3 weeks, turn the plant 180º so that it does not lean to one side. But during the formation of buds it is better not to disturb the plant.

Phalaenopsis blooms in partial shade at a temperature of 18-25 ºC, and the plant can tolerate higher temperatures for some time, up to 35 and even 42 ºC, and lower temperatures - up to 12 ºC. But do not test the strength of phalaenopsis, try to keep the temperature within 15-25 ºC.

Air humidity is required at 30-40 percent, and good ventilation of the room is necessary. With insufficient humidity, the leaves lose turgor and the flowers fall off. To avoid such trouble, place the plant on a tray with wet pebbles. Too high humidity can cause rotting of the orchid roots and spots on the leaves.

Spraying phalaenopsis is undesirable even in very hot weather, since water flows into the core and axils of the leaves, which can lead to rotting of the plant. In addition, moisture evaporating from the surface of the leaves can cause them to burn.

Feeding phalaenopsis carried out during irrigation by adding Kemira-Lux complete complex fertilizer to the water at the rate of 1g per 1l twice a month. You can feed the orchid weekly, but then the concentration of the fertilizer needs to be reduced. Fertilizer is poured only onto a damp substrate.

How to water phalaenopsis

Watering phalaenopsis is carried out after the soil has completely dried, but it should not remain dry for a long time. If you grow phalaenopsis in a transparent container, then a signal that it is time to water the orchid is the lack of moisture on the walls of the pot. In addition, due to lack of moisture, the green roots of the flower become lighter. If the container is opaque, you will have to rake the substrate to determine how deeply it has dried.

Do not water the orchid over the leaves, water the substrate or use the method of bottom watering the orchid - immerse the flowerpot in a container of water to saturate the substrate with moisture through the drainage holes. The water for watering phalaenopsis must be soft and clean: it is not enough to filter the water, it also needs to be boiled. Or use distilled water for watering.

Once a month, phalaenopsis likes to take a shower or wash itself under the tap, after which the plant should be wiped dry. Avoid overwatering phalaenopsis, otherwise its leaves will become limp and the growing point may rot. In the best case, the orchid will develop a side shoot, in the worst case, the plant will die.

How to replant phalaenopsis

In what cases is phalaenopsis transplanted? When the plant is in the same pot and in the same substrate for 2-3 years. Usually, by this time the substrate cakes, turns sour and becomes unusable, therefore, it needs to be replaced. If you notice strong branching of the roots and their growth through the drainage holes, this is also a sign that it is time to replant the phalaenopsis orchid. This should be done after flowering.

If your orchid is not sick in any way and is planted in a substrate of a large fraction, then it can be carefully transferred to a new, large container with a drainage layer and topped with fresh substrate, the main component of which is the bark of the small and medium fraction. In addition, the substrate for phalaenopsis includes sphagnum moss. You can purchase ready-made substrate Or you can buy the ingredients and carefully prepare a mixture for your overseas beauty: place drainage made of expanded clay or pieces of foam plastic on the bottom of the pot, then medium-fraction bark, then fine-fraction bark mixed with crushed moss. Please note that dry bark quickly allows water to pass through, so before making a substrate out of it, you need to rinse it and leave it in water for a couple of days to swell, then rinse the bark again in clean water.

How to prune phalaenopsis

If the phalaenopsis has faded, watch for a while how the old arrow behaves. If it begins to turn yellow and wither, then remove it without regret, but if it is still green and juicy, then, most likely, after a two-month rest, flower buds will appear on it again. The new arrow must still grow, and only then lay buds and produce flowers. If the old arrow is too long, shorten it by cutting 1 cm above the developed bud.

By the way, the lower you cut the peduncle, the more flowers there will be on the side arrow. In any case, there is no need to cut the peduncle below the third bud: you will have to wait a long time for flowering on the shortened arrow.

Phalaenopsis flowering

Phalaenopsis orchid blooming

These plants can bloom at any time of the year, and depending on the general condition of the orchid and the conditions in which it is kept, flowering can last from two months to six months. Phalaenopsis usually bloom twice a year, but sometimes a third bloom occurs within one year. Flowers ranging in size from 2 cm to 15 cm in diameter are located on the peduncle in quantities from three to forty pieces.

How many flowers there will be on the arrow depends primarily on how branched the peduncle is and how comfortable the conditions you have created for the orchid are. Some orchids have a peduncle length of up to 1 m, on which up to hundreds of large flowers are placed! The delicate aroma of phalaenopsis flowers is also attractive, as well as their color diversity: from plain white, yellow, purple, red to various variations of specks, spots and veins on the main background.

Why doesn't phalaenopsis bloom?

If three months have passed since the last flowering, then it is time for the phalaenopsis to bloom again. But there are times when the leaves grow, but the phalaenopsis does not bloom and does not bloom. How to make phalaenopsis bloom?

First you need to find out the reasons for this behavior of the orchid. And the reasons could be:

• insufficient lighting (eliminate the cause and wait for flowering);
• the plant is overfed with nitrogen-containing fertilizers (you will have to wait until the nitrogen is processed by the plant, at this time add only phosphorus as fertilizing);
• the plant is simply tired and needs a longer period to recuperate (wait a little and then stimulate the phalaenopsis to bloom).

Phalaenopsis flowering is stimulated by insufficient watering using the preparation “Ovary” or “Bud”. In addition, it would be a good idea to lower the night temperature so that the difference between day and night temperatures is at least 6-8 degrees. Such sudden changes will cause the orchid to bloom.

Phalaenopsis after flowering

Usually, after flowering, the faded arrow dries out and is cut off. But sometimes the peduncle continues to remain green, and then it’s up to you to decide what to do. You can:

• do not touch the peduncle;
• trim the peduncle to the height of the branch;
• cut off the green flower stem altogether.

If you have cut a green flower stalk, place it in water and chances are a baby will appear on it. If you do not trim the old arrow, then side branches may appear on it, on which flowers will appear over time, but the flowering will not be as abundant as on new peduncles.

Reproduction of phalaenopsis

Reproduction of phalaenopsis by children

While some orchids can be propagated by dividing the rhizome, this method is unacceptable for phalaenopsis. Under natural conditions, they reproduce by seeds and new shoots. But the seed method at home is also impossible. How to propagate phalaenopsis at home?

The easiest way to propagate a phalaenopsis orchid is vegetatively, by separating the side shoots formed on the peduncle or at the base of the leaf rosette. They do this by allowing the plant to rest for a month or two after flowering. Those shoots that have already formed a pair of leaves and the aerial roots have reached 5 cm in length are planted. But don't let the kids outgrow it, as this will have a bad effect on the mother's socket. The separated baby should be dried for 24 hours, and then planted in a fine-grained bark substrate, building a greenhouse over the shoot in which the temperature will be maintained at 22-25 ºC.

The appearance of lateral shoots in phalaenopsis is a rare phenomenon, indicating that you are somehow not properly caring for it. Therefore, if your orchid does not have children, you can artificially awaken dormant buds, which will give birth to children. They do it this way: find dormant points at the base of an old, faded peduncle, use a sharp blade to make a shallow semicircular cut at the base of the covering scales and remove it with tweezers, and lubricate the bud with a growth regulator or fresh birch sap.

After a month or two, rosettes of several leaves will form at the site of the cut, and after three months roots will appear. To speed up the process, put a plastic bag on the plant - in a warmer and more humid microclimate, the children will grow faster.

You can get a baby using a cut peduncle: immerse the peduncle 4-7 cm in a 0.005 percent solution of complex mineral fertilizer, having previously removed the scales from the bud in the manner described above. Build a greenhouse over the peduncle and do not forget to change the water.

Phalaenopsis diseases and their treatment

Phalaenopsis suffer from both infectious and non-infectious diseases. In both cases, the main cause of the disease is errors in plant care.

Of the fungal diseases, fusarium most often affects phalaenopsis, in which the roots of the plant first become ill, and then the disease spreads to the entire orchid. The main cause of fusarium, like other rots, is excess moisture. It is impossible to cure phalaenopsis from fusarium, so the plant is destroyed. But other rots (black, brown, root, gray, as well as diseases such as rust, anthracnose and spotting) are sometimes cured by two-time treatment with a fungicide (foundazol or, for example, topsin-M) with an interval of 10 days.

A common disease in phalaenopsis is urticaria, which affects the leaves at an early stage with large spots 2-3 cm in diameter. The culprit is low air temperature, high humidity and poor air exchange in the room. Eliminate deficiencies in care, and everything will go smoothly.

And from a disease such as botrytis, the plant suffers in conditions of high air humidity and poor ventilation in the room, but it affects not the leaves, but the phalaenopsis flowers: first, dark brown spots appear on the petals, then the petals fade. If you increase the temperature in the room, the disease will slow down its progression. In addition, ensure good ventilation of moist air in the room and treat the plant with a bactericidal preparation.

Non-infectious diseases are caused by the use of pesticides, excessive lighting, improper feeding, uneven watering and are expressed by drying of the tips of the leaves, necrosis of the roots, damage to other plant tissues and all kinds of spotting. Find and eliminate the cause of the disease, and, quite likely, you will be able to save your orchid, but you should know that resuscitating phalaenopsis is a labor-intensive process and is not always successful.

Phalaenopsis pests

In addition to diseases, phalaenopsis and pests also exhaust them. For example, a small insect such as a mealybug causes yellowing and falling leaves. It is destroyed by treating leaves and stems aqueous solution laundry soap.

Spider mites, which attack any plant when there is insufficient air humidity, can also harm phalaenopsis. The mite expresses its presence with a silver web on the leaves, as if pricked with a needle. If you find a spider mite at the very beginning of occupying a plant, you can remove it, like aphids and mealybugs, with a soap solution, but if the matter has gone far and the pest has firmly settled on your orchid, you will have to use acaricide treatment to combat it.

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Phalaenopsis are plants of the orchid family, numbering hundreds of thousands of varieties. Previously, it was believed that they were very capricious and could only be grown in greenhouses. Fortunately, this turned out to be untrue. Keeping phalaenopsis at home is possible and, moreover, not particularly troublesome.

Phalaenopsis has a lot of advantages: the structure of the flowers is unusual, the colors are varied, the aroma is exquisite, the flowering is long, each flower lasts about three weeks. To see all the advantages of these orchids, you need to select and comply with certain conditions.

Care for phalaenopsis at home. Light

Light is the main factor affecting plants. When exposed to it, all processes occur inside tissues: growth of green mass and roots, flowering. Light determines when and how much water the plant should absorb and where, to what part it should be directed. Therefore, we can say that an orchid either has enough light or not enough.

Phalaenopsis requires about 12 hours of light daily. The lighting needs to be diffused but bright. Direct sunlight is unacceptable, as it causes burns on the leaves. The best place for them is windows facing east or southeast. If the orchid is located on the south side, it must be shaded in the spring and summer. Under properly organized conditions, phalaenopsis can grow actively and bloom luxuriantly almost all year round.

Care for phalaenopsis at home. Watering

Watering phalaenopsis is primarily related to the intensity of lighting, and secondly, to the temperature of the room where it is kept. If the sun shines brightly, then photosynthesis in plant cells occurs faster, therefore, more water is required. If there is not enough moisture, the orchid will begin to consume the water contained in its cells. The result will be yellowing and then death of the lower leaves. Therefore, it is difficult to say after how many days watering is needed. On warm, bright days you need to water more often than on cold and cloudy days.

Care for phalaenopsis at home. Substrate

substrate. Here is the approximate composition required for phalaenopsis: bark coniferous trees(preferably pine trees) - 60%, peat or moss (sphagnum) - 20%, polystyrene foam (for breathability) - 15%, charcoal - 5%.

Care for phalaenopsis at home. Spraying

Some hobbyists think that spraying increases air humidity. This is, of course, true, but only for a couple of minutes. It is necessary to spray phalaenopsis, but only in certain places and under certain lighting. On the inside of the leaves there are stomata that allow gas exchange between the plant and environment. If water gets on them, they begin to work actively, but in the presence of sufficient light. In the evening and in cloudy weather, spraying is pointless, and if water flows to the growing point, the process of rotting may begin. In hot weather, you can spray the outer sides of the leaves, this will help cool the plant, but a wet plant should not be placed in direct sunlight, otherwise there will be burns on the leaves.

The article discusses only some questions about how to care for phalaenopsis at home. Don’t forget about fertilizing, air humidity, proper transplanting, and propagation.

One of the most common indoor plants Phalaenopsis orchids are considered domesticated. In order for them to bloom profusely and delight their owners, they must be properly cared for.

Rules for watering phalaenopsis

Household phalaenopsis orchids are watered only after the soil is in the flowerpot. dried up. But the soil should not remain dry for a long time. If the plant is grown in a transparent pot, then a signal that the flower needs to be watered will be the absence of moisture on the walls of the container. Also, due to lack of moisture, the orchid's roots become lighter. To determine the drying depth of the soil in an opaque pot, you need to rake the soil.

Recommendations: when watering an orchid, it is not advisable for water to get on the leaves. It is better to use the bottom watering method. To do this, place the pot in a container filled with water. This way the soil is saturated with liquid through the holes in the pot.

Clean boiled water is suitable for watering the plant. Phalaenopsis is washed in the shower once every 3-4 weeks. After this procedure, the plant must be wiped dry, as it does not like waterlogging. It can die from excess moisture.

Phalaenopsis orchid care

Proper care of phalaenopsis involves the following measures: regular watering, fertilizing, choosing the right location for the flowerpot, etc.

Caring for a phalaenopsis orchid at home starts with the right location pot. For this plant, it is better to choose window sills that are oriented to the west, east or northeast. A plant located on the south side should be protected from direct sunlight, which can leave burns on the surface of the leaves. This can be done using tulle.

Phalaenopsis orchids: home care

Tip: once every two to three weeks, the flowerpot with the plant must be rotated 180 degrees so that it does not tilt to one side. This rule does not apply to the time when the flower is in the process of forming buds.

To plant blossomed, it must be grown in partial shade. A suitable temperature for this is considered to be 18-25 degrees. The flower tolerates a short increase in temperature to 35-42 degrees and a decrease to 12 degrees.

To care for a phalaenopsis orchid at home, you need to know when humidity it is grown. Suitable air humidity for the plant is considered to be 30-40%. At the same time, the flower needs good ventilation in the room. If the humidity regime is not observed, the leaves may lose their elasticity and the flowers may fall off. To avoid such problems, it is recommended to place the flowerpot in a container filled with wet pebbles. Also, the plant cannot be sprayed.

Feeding phalaenopsis

Caring for a phalaenopsis orchid at home includes regular feeding. It is recommended to feed the flower 2 times every 3-4 weeks. For these purposes, you can add complex fertilizer to the water " Kemira Lux"in the proportion of 1 gram per 1 liter of water. The plant can also be fed every week. In this case, the concentration of the fertilizer is weakened.

Proper care of phalaenopsis. Photo

Tip: It is recommended to pour water with diluted fertilizer only onto damp soil.

Rules for transplanting phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis needs a transplant when it has been growing for two to three years in the same soil. During this time, the soil cakes, disappears or turns sour. Strong branching of the root system and its germination through holes in the bottom of the pot are considered evidence that it is time to replant the plant. It is recommended to replant the plant after it has flowered. A drainage layer is placed on the bottom of the flowerpot, medium-fraction bark is poured on top, then fine-fraction bark mixed with moss. Before filling the soil from the bark into the flowerpot, it must be washed and then soaked in water for 48 hours. After this, it should be rinsed again with purified water.

Phalaenopsis pruning

Caring for a phalaenopsis orchid at home includes pruning. They do it after flowering. Before pruning, you need to observe the old arrow: the flaccid and yellow ones are removed, but the green ones should be left. This indicates that the plant can bloom again in 2 months. It is better to shorten a long arrow. To do this, it must be cut 1 cm above the developed bud.

Advice: in order for the plant to bloom profusely, it is necessary to trim the peduncle as low as possible. But in no case should you prune below the 3rd bud, as this means that the plant will not bloom for a long time.

Why doesn't phalaenopsis bloom?

An orchid should bloom every three months. But it often happens that the leaves of a plant have grown, but flowering has not occurred. A flower can behave this way for several reasons:

• shortage sunny lighting. It is necessary to eliminate the cause and the orchid will bloom;
• soil plants overfed fertilizers containing nitrogen. It is necessary to wait until the nitrogen is processed by the flower. During this period, it is recommended to apply only phosphorus fertilizers;
• fatigue plants. For it to start blooming, you need to wait a little and add a growth stimulator. For these purposes, the preparations “Ovary” or “Bud” are used. Such stimulants are used when watering plants. Also, with the help of a sharp temperature change, you can force a flower to bloom. To do this, it is enough to lower the night temperature compared to the daytime by six to eight degrees.

Phalaenopsis after flowering

Yellowed or dried arrows must be cut off. The green peduncle can be left, trimmed, or removed altogether. The cut green arrow is left in the water. Children may grow on it over time. On the old stem that is left behind, side shoots often reappear, on which flowers then grow.

Phalaenopsis diseases and their treatment

Household phalaenopsis orchids are susceptible to a large number of diseases. In most cases, this occurs due to improper care.

Orchid is susceptible fusarium. With this fungal disease, the root system is first affected, and then the disease affects the entire plant. The main cause of fusarium is excess moisture. There is no cure for this disease, so the affected flower must be destroyed. An orchid affected by black, brown, root, gray rot, rust, anthracnose and spotting can be cured with a fungicide, foundationazole, topsin-M. To do this, it is necessary to treat the plant twice with an interval of ten days.

Phalaenopsis can get sick hives. The size of the spots on the leaves with this disease is about two to three centimeters. Causes of the disease: high humidity, insufficient air exchange and low temperature. To cure a plant, it is enough to find and remove the cause of the disease. With proper care of the phalaenopsis orchid at home, such problems can be avoided.

Due to increased moisture and insufficient ventilation, the flower may get sick botrytis. Deep brown spots appear on the leaves of a diseased plant, after which the leaves begin to wither. You can slow down the course of the disease by increasing the air temperature in the room. It is also recommended to ensure good air exchange of moist air and treat phalaenopsis with bactericidal preparations.

The use of chemicals to kill pests, excess light, irrational feeding and watering can cause non-infectious diseases. Symptoms of such diseases: dry ends of leaves, death of roots, appearance of various spots. In order to help the orchid, it is necessary to find and remove the cause of the disease.

Phalaenopsis pests

Proper care of phalaenopsis involves pest control. The falling of yellowed foliage may indicate that the plant is affected mealybug. To destroy it, you need to treat the flower with soapy water. Laundry soap is suitable for these purposes.

If the leaves are covered with brown spots, this may indicate damage thrips. To combat them, actelliks or other systemic insecticides (hostaquics, isatrins) are used. But it is best to use fitoverm. It's not that toxic.

Tubercles on the foliage of an orchid are evidence that it is affected scale insect. To combat these pests, it is necessary to treat the plant twice with a soap solution at an interval of seven days.

Phalaenopsis can also be attacked slugs, which harm the entire plant. You can get rid of this pest in the following way: you need to place pieces of cucumber or carrots on the ground and wait for the slugs to appear. Then destroy them. If it is not possible to physically eliminate these pests, then insecticides such as mesurol or metaldehyde can be used.

Reproduction of phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, unlike other types of orchids, reproduce kids. To do this, it is necessary to separate the side stems that have formed on the arrow or at the base of the rosette of leaves. This should be done only after the plant has rested for a month or two after flowering. Shoots on which several leaves have already formed and aerial roots have grown up to 5 cm in length are suitable for propagation.

Advice: children should not be allowed to outgrow, as this will negatively affect the mother’s socket.

The baby, separated from the mother's outlet, is dried for 24 hours. After this, they are planted in the soil mixture and a greenhouse is built over the plant. Lateral processes in phalaenopsis are a rare phenomenon. Usually their appearance indicates improper care.

If the orchid does not produce children, then you can artificially awaken the dormant buds that produce them. To do this you need:

• Find dormant buds at the base of the peduncle, which have already faded.
• Clear the kidneys of scales. To do this, use a sharp blade to make a shallow cut at the base of the covering scale in the shape of a semicircle and remove it. This can be done with tweezers.
• The sleeping kidney needs to be lubricated. For this you can use fresh birch sap or growth regulator.
• In a few months, rosettes consisting of two or three leaves will appear at the site of the cut.
• Roots appear in the third month.
• To speed up the growth process, you need to put a plastic bag on the orchid.

As you can see, caring for a phalaenopsis orchid has a large number of nuances, but knowing them you can grow a beautiful flower.

Homemade phalaenopsis orchids: care. Video

Phalaenopsis is native to South Asia and belongs to the Orchidaceae family. The flower is distinguished by its amazing long flowering and a variety of colors of beautiful, unusually shaped flowers, for which it has deservedly gained popularity among flower growers.

Phalaenopsis orchid: features of growing the plant

A favorable condition for flowers is a humid climate, since in their homeland they grew at the foot of the mountains and in flat areas. The average Phalaenopsis specimen is a small flower on a long stem, with dark green leaves and a branched root system.

Did you know? Some individuals of the Orchid family can even live on other plants: on the bark of trees.

Another feature of phalaenopsis orchids is their method of reproduction. They have seed capsules containing pollen that is carried by the wind. The flowers also have a pleasant aroma that attracts insects.

Optimal conditions for keeping and planting a flower

The phalaenopsis orchid is not very demanding to care for. But an important aspect is right choice potty places. It is necessary to position the plant so that the leaves do not receive direct sunlight, as they can cause burns. You also need to rotate the pot every couple of weeks to prevent the plant from leaning to one side.

Important! But during the flowering of phalaenopsis at home, it is better not to disturb the plant.

Humidity and temperature

Optimal air humidity is 30-40%. Also, the room should be well ventilated. If there is excess moisture, the leaves may rot. There is no need to spray the plants, because moisture can get into the buds and leaf axils. This can also lead to rotting. And if there is a lack of moisture, you can use a tray with wet pebbles, thereby regulating the level of moisture in the plant.

Important! Phalaenopsis really does not like drafts and sharp wind currents. It is also better not to turn on the air conditioner in a room with orchids.

A comfortable temperature for phalaenopsis is 15-25 °C. The plant, of course, is able to withstand more high temperatures, and low. But it’s better not to experiment, but to take into account all the preferences of the orchid.

Lighting for orchids

The very delicate leaves of the flower are extremely demanding in terms of lighting and do not tolerate direct sunlight. The phalaenopsis orchid loves soft and natural light, so it is best to place the pot near eastern windows. During flowering, you can use additional light sources to make the formation of the bud painless.

Did you know? A healthy, dark green tint of leaves will tell you that there is sufficient lighting.

It is worth noting that the roots of phalaenopsis are involved in the process of photosynthesis, so natural soft light is extremely necessary for them.

Soil requirements for planting

Any beginner knows that orchid roots need air. Therefore, the soil for phalaenopsis must be coarse and moisture-retentive. Tree bark, peat and charcoal are suitable for this. Before planting, the soil must be dried so that it does not become moldy due to watering later.

How to plant a plant

In nature, orchids belong to the group of epiphytes, that is, plants that grow on the bark of trees. Therefore, any addition of ordinary soil can lead to the death of orchids. Before planting, you need to carefully select the soil. It should be dry, voluminous and allow the root system to breathe. Having decided on the substrate, you need to choose a pot. Phalaenopsis will feel very comfortable in a bamboo pot-basket. A clear plastic container that can be easily punched with holes will also work.

Did you know? It is necessary to lay drainage in the form of large pieces of bark at the bottom.

By covering the drainage with a small layer of phalaenopsis soil, you can complete the roots. Be careful because they are very brittle.

Phalaenopsis orchid: how to care at home

Caring for an orchid consists of proper watering of the flower, monitoring the sufficiency of lighting, timely feeding and pruning of the individual. You also need to ensure that the root system of the phalaenopsis is comfortable, otherwise the flower should be transplanted into a larger container.

Caring for phalaenopsis during flowering also involves following these rules.

How to water phalaenopsis

The orchid should be watered only after the substrate has completely dried, but it should not remain dry for long.

Did you know? A signal that it is time to water the flower is droplets of moisture on the inner walls of the pot or the dull color of the roots.

Important! Once a month you can carry out shower procedures. But after that you need to wipe the leaves dry.

Phalaenopsis fertilizer

Orchids are fed by watering. Water can be diluted with special fertilizers, which are sold in a wide range in specialized stores. Such watering should be carried out twice a month. You can fertilize more often, but then the concentration of fertilizing in the water needs to be reduced. Fertilizer is poured only into moist soil.

And once a month you can spray with magnesium sulfate at the rate of 2 g per 1 liter of water.

Orchid pruning

Phalaenopsis pruning is done after the plant has flowered. If the old arrow turns yellow after some time, then it can be safely cut off. And if not, then phalaenopsis may re-bloom at home. But in any case, the arrow needs to be shortened a little.

Important! The number of buds you leave on the arrow, the number of new flowers there will be. But you don’t need to leave more than three, because you’ll have to wait a long time for flowering.

When and how to replant phalaenopsis

The flower needs to be replanted every 2-3 years, because the soil is already caked and the roots feel constrained. If the pot is small and the roots grow through the drainage holes, then this is also the first bell for replanting. The plant can only be disturbed after it has bloomed. You need to replant carefully so as not to disturb the rhizomes. The substrate must be prepared in advance. The simplest option for treating orchid roots when replanting is charcoal.

How to care for a phalaenopsis orchid after flowering

Orchid owners are wondering what to do with phalaenopsis after flowering. There may be three possible solutions here. You can trim the peduncle after it dries. If the arrow has not dried, then you can leave it.

Did you know? After some time, flowers may appear on them, but they will be much smaller and not as bright.

The cut peduncle can be placed in water, perhaps it will produce “offspring”.

How to propagate phalaenopsis

Breeding phalaenopsis orchids is a very interesting process. After all, it is possible in several ways.

The first method is the method of dividing rhizomes. To do this, you need to remove the roots from the pot and carefully separate them with a sharp knife. Each cut rhizome must have at least 3 bulbs. Having planted them in separate containers, provide standard care.

Did you know? This method of breeding phalaenopsis orchids is best used in the spring.

Young individuals need to start fertilizing every 2-3rd watering.

The second method is propagation by seeds. But this method is only possible in laboratory conditions. Indeed, in nature, seeds develop and are nourished by the root sponge, but domesticated orchids do not have this nutrient medium. Therefore, this method is very labor-intensive and expensive.
The third method is propagation by shoots. After some time, shoots appear near the adult individual, which also need care. If you like this method of propagating orchids, then pay more attention to these “babies”: fertilize and spray with nitrogen-containing fertilizers more often.