Top quality orchids with the beautiful planters.
Orchids are the best-selling potted plants in Europe. Probably the most popular type of orchid is the Phalaenopsis, the moth orchid. It is easy to care for and usually starts to bloom again on its own without any major tricks. Still, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
1. How often to water orchids
Most mistakes are made when watering the orchid - mainly because it is watered too often. Orchids cannot tolerate lime and suffer from hard water. Therefore, only water with rainwater or boiled water. At normal room temperature, you only need to submerge the pot in water once a week until the soil is thoroughly moist.
2. The right location for orchids
The Phalaenopsis does not tolerate direct sun in summer. Choose a bright, sunny spot. A south-facing window is no problem in winter. Normal room temperature, which is comfortable for us, is also suitable for orchids. The plant does not like cooling below 13 degrees and damage or illness can occur.
Then let the excess water drain off thoroughly and put the plant back in its place - the way it was. If the soil is waterlogged, i.e. if the soil is too moist, the roots die and the outer leaves become soft and furrowed. If this is the case, be sure to reduce the watering and, with a bit of luck, the plant will recover. But the wilted leaves no longer become firm.
3. Make orchids bloom
To encourage new blooms, you can shorten the stem a little. Simply cut back a few inches from the tip to the next leaf scale. If Phalaenopsis orchids drop their buds or turn yellow, it is probably due to the change after purchase or because the room temperature is too low.
If you have a plant that hasn't bloomed for several months or even a year, put it in a cool place (14 degrees) for four weeks and water very moderately. After moving to the warmer climate, new flowers will form. After flowering, the orchid forms leaves and gathers strength. Support this with an orchid fertilizer every two weeks.
4. Help with woolly aphids
The most common pests on orchids are mealybugs. The three to four millimeter large animals, which look like cotton fluff, gradually populate the entire plant - from the leaves to the flowers. Don't wait too long to combat it; take action as soon as you notice the first infestation.
As a first step, you should definitely move the infected plant away from other orchids to avoid infecting your neighbors. A rapeseed oil-based spray from a specialist retailer is then the best choice. You should spray the insects well with this solution to ensure they are rendered harmless. Repeat the treatment two to three times at an interval of one week until you no longer notice any animals.
Scale insects can also be combated with it. You need another commercially available pesticide to combat black aphids.
5. Repot orchids at the right time
Over time, orchids form aerial roots that protrude from the sides of the pot. Do not cut away these aerial roots; they are used by the orchid to absorb moisture. These roots don't necessarily need soil; they can stay outside the pot.
Orchids are only repotted when the coarse soil loses its structure and becomes too fine. As a result, it stores too much water and the sensitive roots begin to rot. You can even put the orchid back in the same pot, just change the soil.
Take this opportunity to cut off all dead roots and also examine the underground parts of the plant for pests. When repotting, only use orchid soil from specialist retailers. You should repot when the orchid is not blooming.