Hi orchid gang! I was gifted this beauty from my boss. I have some other epiphytes but this is my first orchid. I read a bit but always love getting some quick & dirty advice on care from y'all. Also, does the auto-identification seem correct? The roots seem to be in great condition, not overwatered. It came in orchid bark already but I moved it into a clear orchid pot for better air flow.
Love the colour!
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Gorgeous mix of colors!😍
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It’s stunning
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Welcome to the wonderful world of orchids. My guess is this is a phalaenopsis because they dominate the market. But Doritaenopsis and Phalaenopsis are very similar, and have been crossbred so who knows what you really have. Regardless, this a a great plant to start your exploration of orchids. The both will teach you the basics while being pretty forgiving. The most important thing to keep in mind is they like their water but the LOVE for their roots to dry out. The best way to tell is to look at the roots. Green roots = don’t water. Silver roots = watering time. The type of media dictates how I water. I grow most of my Phalaenopsis and Doritaenopsis in bark so they dry out reasonably fast in my growing conditions. When the plant is ready for some water (silver roots), I soak the pot for 10-15 minutes. Each time I water, I use fertilizer at 1/8 strength. Wait until the media dries out (look for silver roots) before watering again. For my setup, that works out to roughly once a week. Once a month flush with pure water to reduce salt buildup (this is especially important if you are using synthetic fertilizer or have hard water). Put your plant in in bright but indirect light. Direct sun will burn these guys pretty quickly. Too low and you won’t get blooms. I have mine an a west window that is shaded by landscaping. They get absolutely no direct sun. If the edges of the leaves turn reddish you know you are at the max limit of sun for your plant. The blooms typically last one to three months, so don’t worry when they start to fade. It’s just part of its natural annual cycle. I cut the inflorescence back to the base of the plant once the final bloom drops. There is a way to try for a second bloom but in my experience the following year flowers tend to be fewer in number and sometimes smaller. However many hobbyists do not experience this so you might want to experiment. Since this is a newly purchased orchid, the media could be at the end of its useful lifespan. Since you moved it into a clear pot, you’ll be able to easily monitor the state of the media. Repot when it starts to break down - reliable signs are media the begins to look less like bark and more like soil, a mushroomy smell, or it retains water for longer periods. Repotting can be daunting but is pretty straight forward. Ideally you will repot when the plant isn’t in bloom and bonus if new roots are beginning to form. There are a lot of good resources out there. The American Orchid Society is a handy source of information. I especially like their monthly to do lists. There are several channels on YouTube with information on orchid care, like Miss Orchid Girl, Here.. but Not, Hello Plant Lovers and Growing Orchids With Roger. If you really want to dive into the rabbit hole, you can look for orchid societies in your area; nothing can replace interacting directly with growers that have been doing it for years. Good luck!
6 Likes Thank you so much, this is all great info and exactly what I was looking for! I'll have to keep a close eye for a few days, I think where I have it now might end up being too bright (direct sun for a only a couple hours, but maybe too much?).
1 Like It might be okay if it’s early morning or super late in the day. Just keep a close eye on it.
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