CARING FOR AND RE-BLOOMING THE PHALAENOPSIS

Information on the growing and culture of the Phalaenopsis.

The 2 most common questions are...

Cutting the spike

When the blooms are finished, you can cut the spike down to the level of the leaves and the plant will bloom with larger flowers and a strong stem within a year. You can also cut off the stem leaving two nodes (those little brown lines on the stem below where the flowers were) on the stem. One of these nodes will then initiate and generally produce flowers within eight to 12 weeks. 

Potting is best done in the spring, immediately after flowering. Phalaenopsis plants must be potted in a porous mix. Potting is usually done every one to three years. Mature plants can grow in the same container until the potting medium starts to decompose, usually in two years. Root rot occurs if plants are left in a soggy medium. Seedlings usually grow fast enough to need repotting yearly, and should be repotted in a fine-grade medium. Mature plants are potted in a medium-grade mix. To repot, remove all the old medium from the roots, trim soft, rotted roots, and spread the remaining roots over a handful of medium in the bottom of a new pot. Fill the rest of the pot with medium, working it among the roots, so that the junction of the roots and the stem is at the top of the medium.

THE PHALAENOPSIS SPECIES

These are the Phalaenopsis that are found in nature. 

An alphabetical listing of Phalaenopsis species can be found here.

Classifications of Phalaenopsis through a graphics table or text table.

A comparison layout showing the relatives sizes of Phalaenopsis species' flowers.

For information on the culture and care of the Phalaenopsis orchid, follow this link.

THE PHALAENOPSIS HYBRIDS

A Phalaenopsis primary hybrid is the result of crossing two Phalaenopsis species.

A complex hybrid Phalaenopsis is where one or both parents of the Phalaenopsis is a primary hybrid.

To add a bit of confusion, some Phalaenopsis primary hybrids occur naturally. Note that these hybrids are identified by preceding their names with the letter "x"

Bigeneric, intergeneric (a hybrid between two different but closely related genera identified by preceding their names with the letter "x")  and trigeneric hybrids are beyond the scope of the typical orchid grower.

Phalaenopsis primary hybrids registered at the RHS

• 553 registered primary hybrids between 1856 and 2015.
• 392 registered primary hybrids illustrated on this page.

For information on the culture and care of the Phalaenopsis orchid, follow this link.

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Converting the Phalaenopsis to a Hydroponic Environment

This series is about my effort to acclimate 4 mini-Phalaenopsis from a terrestrial (potted in an organic medium) to a hydroponic (roots submerged in water constantly )environment.
 

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Comparing the Results of Fertilizing the Phalaenopsis Orchid

Using four similar mini-Phalaenopsis, each with a feeding (fertilizing routine) that is different, I will compare the results over a year's time.  Every effort will be used to keep all environmental conditions the same, humidity, light, temperatures, frequency of watering.  The only difference from other growers will be my preferred use of clay pellets as a potting medium, and drainage holes about 1/2 inch above the bottom of the clear, plastic glass.  I will document the orchid as I re-pot it and will only know the condition of the roots as they make themself known when they appear along the sides of the pot.  At the very bottom will be a reservoir of water measuring 1/2-inch deep.  I have not yet decided if I cut back the spike or just document via text and images as it blooms out, gets cut back the standard way and then forms a new bud branch and blooms.  They will vary in color to some degree.