Watering, fertilizing, repotting and more

How do I water the orchid in the right amount?

One of the central components of well-founded care instructions is the balanced water balance of a Phalaenopsis. We recommend this approach so that there is neither irreversible waterlogging nor fatal drought:

• In summer, dip the pot with the aerial roots once a week at temperatures of 19-25 degrees Celsius
• In winter, extend the intervals according to the reduced light and temperature conditions
• To do this, soak the root ball so that there is no water in the heart of the plant or in the leaf axils
• Alternatively, always then with lime-free water to waterwhen the substrate is dry

Please ensure that irrigation water can always run off unhindered. Please use a special orchid planter that has a pedestal inside for the culture pot so that the roots are not in the water. Wet leaves should be dried off by the beginning of night.

Watering and spraying go hand in hand

If you ask an orchid expert for the most important tips for the perfect water supply, he will usually point out continuous spraying. Pamper a moth orchid with a gentle mist that engages the silvery aerial roots.

Does regular fertilization belong on the maintenance plan?

In the period from April to October a Phalaenopsis gratefully accepts additional nutrients. Please add a liquid one every third pouring or dipping Orchid fertilizer added to the water. Between November and March, the application of fertilizer every 6-8 weeks completely covers the need. Please note that conventional Flower fertilizer(€ 71.80 at Amazon *) has too high a salt concentration and is therefore completely unsuitable.

When and how should a phalaenopsis be cut?

This question should be addressed in every guidebook, because no other question causes more headaches for beginners. How good that a central premise provides security of action: Never cut off green parts of the plant from a moth orchid. So cut Your Phalaenopsis professionally:

• Do not cut off withered flowers, but pluck them off or let them fall off
• Only cut worn flower stalks when they are completely dead
• Simply cut back to the green stem with 2 to 3 buds

Phalaenopsis orchids tend to sprout again below the faded flower stalks and continue the flower festival. As long as there is still a green stem base, please cut back to that point and give the next flowers a chance.

How do I gently repot the moth orchid?

Exemplary for a Phalaenopsis to repot, you only need to look at these care instructions every 2 to 3 years. If you are just starting to keep orchids, this measure will only come into focus after 5 years. The best time to change to fresh substrate and a new cultivation pot is in spring, shortly before the shoot begins. The orchid should not have flowers. How to do it correctly:

• Water or dip the orchid the day before to create flexible aerial roots
• Knead the pot, grasp the plant between the leaves and the root ball and carefully pot it up
• Shake off or rinse off old substrate
• Insert the plexus into the new pot with a twisting motion

Fill this Orchid substrate(€ 7.98 at Amazon *) in small portions, repeatedly pushing open the pot. Do not water the freshly repotted Phalaenopsis, just spray the leaves and aerial roots with soft water.

Is a phalaenopsis with yellow, flaccid leaves sick?

The robust orchid species is rarely attacked by classic plant diseases. If the leaves take on an unhealthy color, hang limp and wrinkled, the Phalaenopsis signals discomfort. This dilemma is mostly due to neglect in care. We have compiled the most common triggers for you with tips on how to eliminate the error:

• A cold shock makes the leaves soft and limp: Temperatures of 18 to 23 degrees Celsius are ideal
• The leaves become wrinkled in the rotted substrate: Immediately repot in fresh orchid soil
• The leaves wither in waterlogged water: Repot promptly and only dip once a week
• Sunburn causes yellow, brown and blotchy leaves: Immediately move to a partially shaded spot

If the buds turn yellow while the leaves are still bright green, yours will suffer Phalaenopsis with a probability bordering on certainty under a lack of light or a much too cold one Location. In winter you can fix the problem with a Plant lamp.(€ 65.50 at Amazon *) In addition, avoid opening windows in the immediate vicinity to ventilate the room.