Growing gorgeous phalaenopsis at home

Orchid is considered one of the most beautiful ornamental plants. According to many florists, the most magnificent representative of the family of Orchids is the famous phalaenopsis.

It is possible to distinguish this elegant plant from others byflowers resembling the shape of the butterfly's wings. They are located on curved long peduncles and open gradually, one after another. Color phalaenopsis can be the most diverse - white, yellow, pink, purple, red and even green. The leaves of this flower are fleshy, arranged in two rows, forming a basal rosette. The roots of the plant are intended to be fixed on any surface and provide the orchid with moisture and nutrients. In this article, we would like to consider how to properly grow phalaenopsis at home. With constant maintenance of favorable climatic conditions, the orchid will produce flower stalks twice a year and delight you with its amazing colors in autumn and spring.

How to choose a healthy flower in the store?

Now there is a large species and hybriddiversity of this plant. Typically, at home, most species are grown such as Phalaenopsis Stewart, Phalaenopsis Pleasant, Phalenopsis Schiller, Phalaenopsis mini pink and Phalaenopsis giant. In order to buy a healthy plant, you must carefully consider its roots: they must be a sufficient number. If the orchid is unstable in the pot, then the roots are small or they rot and die. Also, when choosing a plant, you should pay attention to the deciduous mass. She should look healthy, without dark spots. After buying it is desirable to transplant Phalaenopsis in a new pot with a good substrate for orchids. To carry out the transplant, the roots of the plant are carefully separated from the walls of the container and washed with warm water, removing the old substrate and, if necessary, pruning the rotten parts. After this, the orchid is placed in a new container and covered with a substrate so that about 3 cm of space is left to the edge of the pot.

For orchids, buy onlyspecialized ground, but it is possible to make it yourself using such ingredients as charcoal, pine bark, sphagnum moss. At the bottom of the pot necessarily placed a layer of drainage (pebbles, pieces of bark, polystyrene). The most practical and convenient capacity for growing epiphytes is a transparent plastic pot with holes in the bottom.

Phalaenopsis at home: lighting and temperature

In principle, for the cultivation of orchids will suitany side, the main thing is that the sun does not fall on the plant itself, especially in the summer and spring periods. On the southern and western windows phalaenopsis should be shaded with blinds or curtains. In winter - when there is a lack of natural light - the plant must be additionally illuminated with lamps, thereby prolonging the light day. Important: the orchid will gradually tilt to the light source, and therefore it is desirable to rotate the pot 180 ° periodically every two weeks, the only condition is that the plant should not be disturbed during the budding period. Phalaenopsis orchid at home prefers the temperature in the room not lower than 18 ° C, the most comfortable it feels at 22 ° C - 24 ° C. In the autumn period, it is possible to maintain a cooler temperature - about 16 ° C. This is necessary to bookmark the kidneys. It should also be borne in mind that phalaenopsis requires a difference between night and daytime values ​​in the range of 6 ° C.

Care of the phalaenopsis flower at home. Watering and top dressing

Typically, it is recommended to water the plant twoonce a week, moisturizing the substrate well. Between watering the soil mixture must be able to dry out sufficiently. How to water phalaenopsis in winter? Drying of the substrate is allowed during the cold season, so irrigation is less frequent. It is necessary to avoid moistening the soil at sufficiently low night temperatures (10 ° C). Important: you can not water an orchid at night! To moisten the flower, use exceptionally soft, stand-by water, approximated by temperature to room temperature. Your phalaenopsis will not do without regular spraying from the spray. In carrying out this procedure, it is necessary to ensure that water droplets do not fall on the flower spike and growth point, otherwise it can lead to deterioration of the plant's well-being. Remember that spraying is preferably done in the morning or in the afternoon, and not in the evening. As for feeding, the orchid needs a period of vegetation in complex fertilizers. They are diluted in a proportion of about 1 g per 1 liter and make the solution once every 14 days after watering.