Having received their first orchid as a gift, many women are lost, not knowing what kind of flower it is, what to do with it, how to water it? In order to answer this question, you first need to determine which genus it belongs to. Since there are many hybrids now, it can sometimes be difficult to do, but in most cases Phalaenopsis orchids are presented as a gift. How to care for them? It is extremely simple, because it was precisely because of their unpretentiousness that they fell in love with flower growers. But more on that later.
Orchid Phalaenopsis from Latin is conventionally translated as "like a nocturnal butterfly" for the shape of the flowers. In nature, phalaenopsis are not too similar to ours, domestic. Usually natural species with their flowers really resemble moths. Later, through selection and hybridization, samples of various colors that are already familiar to us, which now live in almost every apartment, were also deduced for us, so that even novice gardeners can take Phalaenopsis without fear.
How to care for the plant, you can learn from the lovers of these beauties, but in fact, everything is extremely simple. The plant should remain in a transparent pot. Transplanting is not recommended during flowering, an exception is if the situation is critical. Roots sticking out of the pot are absolutely normal, since in nature phalaenopsis do not grow in the ground, but on trees - they are epiphytes and have aerial roots. In the center of the outlet is a growth point, if it dies, the plant is unlikely to survive. Sometimes phalaenopsis give babies - new plants that can appear from sleeping buds or grow on peduncles, but at home it is very difficult to get babies, however, some growers use cytokinin paste for this . But its excessive use can deplete a plant of the genus Phalaenopsis.
Experienced gardeners can tell you how to care for and water a plant. Watering should be well regulated, drought phalaenopsis tolerate much easier than the bay, so it is even better to play it safe. Watering the phalaenopsis is necessary when the substrate is practically dry, and the roots of bright green become silver-gray.
Usually in the summer, watering is done once every 7-10 days, and in winter - 2 times a month. The pot with the plant needs to be placed in a bright place, but in no case under direct sunlight. During the flowering period, it can be fed with special fertilizer.
After the plant fades, you need to wait either for the flower stalk to dry, or for its further growth. If it starts to dry, it needs to be cut. In general, healthy phalaenopsis with proper care blooms 2-3 times a year, and the flowers stay on it for a long time.
There are a large number of different varieties and clones for every taste. For the most part, this kind of orchid does not smell, but there are also fragrant varieties. For example, the beautiful white Phalaenopsis Amabilis, according to some gardeners, smells like dried grass and dust. There are varieties that smell like citruses and lilacs - the choice is great, but a sample of fragrant phalaenopsis can be difficult to find, they are appreciated among collectors.
There is no secret what Phalaenopsis orchids are , how to care for them and where it is better to place them. It is important not to "love" the plant - this is a common mistake of beginner growers. The best care is to put in a bright place and occasionally recall it in order to water. And it will bloom gratefully.