Phalaenopsis Orchids

In the Victorian Era, English lords spent vast sums outfitting expeditions to comb the rain forest for specimens of the exotic and mysterious orchid family. Luckily, our expert farmers have brought this elegant beauty closer to home this season. The mystery, strength, and striking good looks of this floral favorite are the perfect way to let anyone know just how much you appreciate them.

The Phalaenopsis Orchid, or commonly called a Moth Orchid, is long lasting and easy to care for. To ensure that your flowers last longer, they are shipped fresh, budding, and ready to bloom. Your orchid stands from 18 inches to two feet tall.

Care Instructions | The Orchid Story

Care Instructions

Temperature:
Phalaenopsis orchids enjoy much the same temperature range as we do. The minimum temperature at night is 60-65F, while the average daytime temperature should be around 75-85F. Occasional deviations will not harm your plant, except when it is in bud - chill temperatures may cause the plant to stop budding.

Water:
Water often enough to keep continuous moisture just below the surface of the medium, but be cautious of over-watering. Watering once a week is normally sufficient to keep your plant healthy and happy.

Light:
Phalaenopsis will flourish indoors under normal lighting conditions, with indirect sunlight being most advantageous. Caution should be used when placing a Phalaenopsis in direct sunlight to to the fact that its leaves burn easily from too much exposure to the sun.

Humidity:
Phalaenopsis enjoy moist air, with a humidity level of 55-75% being ideal. Placing your plant over a tray or dish of water can increase moisture. Separate the pot and tray with pebbles or small stones to raise the height of your plant and ensure that it does not sit directly in the water.

Fertilizer:
Good results may be obtained by suing a high-nitrogen fertilizer year-round at 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Fertilize your plant once a month. In this instance, less is more. So be sure not to overdo it.

Repotting:
Plants should be repotted every other year and, because they grow upwards without spreading, can go back into the same size pot. A medium-grade wood bark works well with the base of the bottom leaf at the surface of the medium. Water sparingly until new roots are well established.

Pruning:
When the last flower drops, cut your flower spike halfway down the stem.

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The Orchid Story

The beauty and diversity of orchids have fascinated people for ages. As long as five centuries before Christ, Confucius compared the pleasure of seeing good friends to entertaining a room full of "lan" or fragrant orchids.

With so many people interested in orchids, one may well ask what is so special about these plants? One thing is the incredible diversity. There is simply no such thing as a typical orchid.

Orchidacae is probably the largest flowering plant family. So far approximately 30,000 wild species have been described. Also many, many man-made hybrids have been created.

Orchids range in size from plants only an inch high with very tiny flowers, to vines up to 50 feet long with flowers a foot across.

Orchids are herbaceous (non-woody) perennials that occur as vines, shrubs, and grass-like plants. Some bear a single flower; others have many flowers. They grow in habitats from tropical rain forests to alpine meadows, from bogs to semi-desert areas and from sea level to 14,000 feet in elevations. At least one orchid is semi-aquatic, holding only its blossoms above the water's surface. Another species grows and blooms entirely below ground.

Most tropical and subtropical orchids (the ones most grown by hobbyists) are epiphitic; that is, they grow on the trunks and limbs of trees. This allows the orchids to get more light than they would receive on the forest floor.

The largest, showiest, and most bizarre orchids occur in the tropics. Flower colors range from pure white to vivid pinks, lavenders, reds, golden-yellows, oranges, browns, and even blackish-purple. they vary from soft-muted tones to pure, brilliant colors, and from solid shades to multicolored patterns.

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