PHALAENOPSIS
Phalaenopsis, or moth orchids, are one of the longest flowering orchids for indoors, but light levels are important. “The more light, the better,” says Don O’Connor of the nursery Gellert’s, which specialises in houseplants, “Not direct light through glass as this can burn them. But a little bit of early morning sun is OK.”
Too much light and their dark green leaves will begin to fade. Too little light and the plant won’t flower, and foliage will become limp. An east-facing window (behind net curtains) is ideal, although shading from 10am to 5pm will be needed in summer.
Moth orchids need regular watering, enough so that they don’t dry out between applications. “In summer, about twice a week but never let them sit in water,” says Don. “In winter, every seven to 10 days depending on how warm the house is. A good indication they’re not getting enough water is when new buds go yellow and fall off.”
Moth orchids also need humidity. Unlike many other types of orchids, they have no pseudobulbs to store water. But they do store some water in their leaves. If the air is constantly dry, the water will evaporate and the leaves will wilt. To increase humidity levels, place plant pots on pebbles in a saucer of water.
With feeding, little and often is best, so incorporate your fertiliser in with your watering. Use an orchid food from spring through summer. Once a month, flush the plant thoroughly with straight water to remove any salt build-up from the fertiliser.
Moth orchids send up new flower spikes when the temperature drops in autumn, says Don. “You can fool them into thinking it is autumn by moving them into a cooler position. This is how we flower them all year round in the nursery.”
When the flowers on a spike are finished, cut the spike back. “A shortcut for reflowering is to cut the old flower spike just above two nodes up from the base,” says Don. “They will send out new growth from this point, rather than waiting for a new flower spike in autumn.”