Phalainopsis (Orchid) with 2 stems

Common Name: Whale watching

Origin: Southeast Asia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia

 

Orchids are one of the most charming flowers as people especially love their distinctive flowers. Orchids are epiphytes, that is, they use other plants for support so that they can grow, while their roots are in the air.

 

 

Its leaves are alternate, thick, fleshy elliptical, dark green.

 

 

Its flowers are large, impressive with various colors and appear in inflorescences on long stems. Its flowers can be preserved for two or even three months.

 

 

A suitable substrate is pine bark which helps the soil to keep its structure, helps the root system of the plant and ensures the ideal conditions for the healthy growth of the orchid.

 

A suitable time for transplanting is the spring after flowering. The size of the pot we choose should be proportional to the size of the plant and the substrate we use should be suitable for orchids.

 

 

In order to bloom and stay healthy, orchids need strong indirect light without direct exposure to the sun.

 

 

We water every 10 days, immersing the pot in a bucket of water for about 20 minutes. Then let it drain through the holes in the bottom. During the flowering period, be careful not to splash the flowers with water because it limits the duration of the flowers.

 

Tip:

In the morning we spray the leaves of the orchid with a little water so that they dry by the evening.

 

 

Lubrication

 

Fertilization in the orchid is necessary for healthy growth of the leaves, the root and also for the production of flowers. Fertilize once or twice a month with a liquid fertilizer specifically for orchids. The fertilizer will be diluted in the basin that we will use for watering.

 

 

After the blooms are over and the flower stem has dried, you remove it and wait for a new stem to form from the base. Alternatively, you can prune them earlier before the flower stem on the second knee dries up to speed up new flowering with smaller flowers.

 

 

The orchid is a disease resistant plant. It is rarely affected by coccoids, thrips and tetranych. The biggest problem is excess moisture, because of which the roots can rot.