Its lavish blooms and modest requirements make the butterfly orchid one of the most popular houseplants. The ambitious hobby gardener has to deal a little more closely with the care. These instructions show how to properly water, fertilize, prune and overwinter a Phalaenopsis.

Like all exotic orchid species, the butterfly orchid is quite demanding

When and how to water the butterfly orchid?

If the orchid soil dries up, pour the butterfly orchid with soft water. Please make sure that excess irrigation water can run off unhindered so that no waterlogging forms. Until you, as a beginner, have the necessary instincts, you are on the safe side if you dip the root ball once or twice a week. If no more air bubbles rise, allow the water to drain off well before you place the plant pot in the cachepot.

Spray leaves and aerial roots

By spraying the foliage and aerial roots of a butterfly orchid, you simulate the tropical climate conditions of your native rainforest. Ideally, you should use filtered, lukewarm rainwater or stagnant, lukewarm tap water.

Can a Phalaenopsis do without fertilizer?

Their epiphytic growth as epiphytes of rainforest trees leads to the assumption that butterfly orchids live on water and air. In fact, the aerial roots take important nutrients from the rainwater. In addition, organic material accumulates in the root network over time, the minerals of which keep growth going. As a houseplant, the Phalaenopsis is dependent on this supplementary supply of nutrients:

  • Add liquid orchid fertilizer to every third irrigation or immersion water from April to October
  • Fertilize every 6 to 8 weeks from November to February

Can I cut a malay flower?

The faded flower stalks of numerous Phalaenopsis species and varieties branch out. Fresh buds will sprout from these extensions, which will soon unfold into flowers. Therefore, only cut a shoot when it has dried up and died. Please do the same with the leaves. Only when a leaf has yellowed and drawn in is it cut off with a clean knife.

tips

In winter, the butterfly orchid drives away all gloomy thoughts with its beautiful flowers. In a light-flooded location at temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, immerse the root ball in soft water once a week. Add some fertilizer to the soak water every 6 to 8 weeks. So lovingly cared for, your Phalaenopsis overwinters in its magnificent flower dress.

Category:

Indoor plants