Phalaenopsis orchids

Phalaenopsis orchids are very beautiful perennial houseplants. They got their name from the Greek phalaina, which means "the night butterfly", and also the word opsis - "similarity". This species was imported from Australia and South-East Asia.

Phalaenopsis is the most unpretentious of all kind of orchids. This is an excellent option for a florist-novice, who decided to start breeding indoor plants.

The orchid has large fleshy dark green oval leaves. Peduncles of the plant grow long and branching. The root system is well developed. The flowering of phalaenopsis orchids lasts a long time. With proper care, she can please her master for several months in a row.

When buying a plant in a store, you should carefully examine it. Preference should be given to the flower in a transparent pot where the roots are clearly visible. They should be green or silver in color, without signs of rotting. If some roots hang from the pot, then this is considered the norm. Healthy leaves are dense, without spots and heavy damage.

After buying the phalaenopsis orchid it is necessary to transplant it. As a ground it is necessary to use a special substrate from bark of a pine and charcoal. In ordinary land, the flower will not grow. Orchid very hard to tolerate a transplant, so do it once every two years.

The flower will grow on any window, but in a warm time it should be protected from sunlight. In winter, the phalaenopsis orchids begin to bloom. At this time, there is a need to highlight the plant. If it is absent, the flowers may wither.

The room where the orchid grows should be regularly ventilated, but be more careful with drafts that can harm it. The temperature at which the flower feels comfortable is +20 degrees in the daytime, at night - up to +16, but not lower.

Water the plant with water at room temperature. In a warm time 1-2 times a week, and in a cold - 2 times a month. But the ground must always be wet. Watering is performed during the daytime, it is not recommended to do this at night. In the center of the outlet, moisture should not fall.

In the period of active growth of orchids, phalaenopsis is watered with diluted complex fertilizer 1-2 times a month. Also, the plant responds well to foliar top dressing when only leaves are treated (can be sprayed).

Reproduction of orchids is possible with the help of seeds and shoots. In this case, the flower should be healthy and receive the necessary nutrients. The growth of "children" occurs immediately after the end of flowering. If this does not happen, then the awakening of the kidneys can be stimulated. To do this, they are wrapped in sphagnum, moisturized and covered with polyethylene. From the flower shoots are separated after the appearance of two leaves and roots, reaching 5 cm.

Especially dangerous for the flower of snails and slugs, it is rather difficult to combat them. If necessary, the leaves should be treated with mezurool.

With proper care, the plant lives for about seven years. Home conditions allow you to grow up to 70 varieties of phalaenopsis orchids (you can find them in unlimited quantities).