Orchids are stunningly beautiful, but you may not know
that they are one of the sturdy plants you can grow.

Phalaenopsis care sounds extravagant, but despite their
flower’s delicate appearance, many orchids happily thrive regardless of sub
standard care for orchids.

Caring for orchids, or phalaenopsis care if you want to
sound scientific, simply requires sensible and consistent care to yield the
most beautiful, exotic and romantic blooms imaginable, year after year for many
years to come!

There’s no need to be an experienced gardener or
horticulturalist to provide quality care for orchids, and you don’t need either
a greenhouse or a green thumb.  What you
primarily need is the following:

1. An Orchid Pot:

Failing to use the correct orchid pot means that you may
be very inclined to overwater your orchids, especially if you are new to the
hobby and care for orchids.   Letting your orchids sit in a waterlogged pot is
damaging to the plant, but a proper orchid pot can compensate for this at least
to some degree.  The second part of the
equation, of course, is to limit carefully how much you water to only once a
week.

As you care for orchids, each time you water them use enough
water so that you can detect drainage form the base of the pot.  Also, if your orchids are growing in bark
mixes or pots, more frequent watering may be necessary.

2. The Proper Soil and Nutrients

Having the correct soil when caring for orchids is
essential, but it is not the full story! 
Phalaenopsis care involves giving your plants proper nutrients in order
that they might grow and produce large amounts of rich, vibrant flowers.  Nutrients like Nitrogen, Potassium, and
Phosphorus can make a world of difference in caring for orchids, but take care
so that you do not over fertilize them and harm the plants!

3. Pest Treatments

Like all plants, caring for orchids involves actively deterring
pests and disease.  Things like the
scales, thrips, spider mites, and mealybugs can feed on leaves and flowers and
severely affect the appearance of your orchids. 
Ask your local grower for the best and most effective sprays.

4. Information-
   Lots of It!

The very best tool you can have for Phalaenopsis care is
to obtain helpful, concise and easy to read information, such as that offered
on our website.  This will help you avoid
many mistakes, and provide a level of care for orchids which will manifest
itself as wonderful flowers in the months to come.

A love of orchids often begins with an orchid being given
to you as a gift, for a birthday or for Christmas.  However, being a living thing, caring for
orchids involves far more than putting it on a shelf, and sometimes the care of
orchids can seem overwhelming! 

So, if you are starting out, here are a few things to
consider…

Watering – Many people who are new to orchids commit the
classic mistake: they over water!  You
need to wait until your orchids are dry (but not completely dry) before you
water thoroughly.  To establish exactly
how dry tings are, check beneath the surface of your growing medium.  There is no absolute rules for watering,  but try to do it no more than once a week, unless
you are absolutely sure it is dry.

Temperature – Given that most orchids come from tropical
regions, where temperatures are regularly above 30 degrees Celsius, you need to
be careful with temperature.  Sure, some orchids
that can grow in the cold, but excessively cold temperatures can damage the
plant, causing yellowing of the leaves to the point where they will eventually
fall off.

Feeding Orchids – A common question in caring for orchids
involves how you feed them.  You can use
either your own feed, or fertilizers that you can buy from the shop, but be
careful and seek the right advice. The best time to use orchid feed is in
spring, and you should never use them in the winter months.

Re-potting Orchids – If your caring for orchids is
becoming a success, you may see enough growth to require a re-pot.  Make sure you re-pot before new growth
appears on your orchid.

Light –  If you are
serious about the care of orchids, you need to get enough light to your orchids,
without leaving them in direct sunlight all day. Getting the light right is
arguably the most critical factor in the care of orchids, because if they don’t
get enough then they won’t bloom properly. Think about where you place you
orchid in relation to the light, and remember that as a general rule south
facing windows allow more light.

Humidity Levels – Most people never even consider these,
but bearing in mind the tropical origin of most orchids, complete caring for
orchids involves thinking about humidity. 
The good news is that it is easier than you would think!  Use a spray bottle to mist to ensure there is
enough moisture in the air of the room.

Caring for Orchids can also throw up other problems, such
as insects and diseases.  If this
happens, seek the advice or a local orchid expert, and make sure you clean your
orchids regularly to ensure they remain healthy.

Caring for orchids can be a hugely rewarding experience.
Once you start with your first orchid it is likely you will be hooked, and
eager to take caring for orchids to a higher level.  If you enjoy the experience, and don’t become
overwhelmed!  Don’t be daunted, after a
little more experience, caring for orchids will become easy for you.