Orchid - characteristics, care and transplantation of a flower + 85 photos

If you want to buy an exotic flower of extraordinary beauty for yourself, we recommend paying attention to Phalaenopsis. We are sure that this is what you will definitely like. In the flower shop, you can easily recognize these orchids by their gray-green powerful roots sticking out of the planting containers, by the rosettes of dense beautiful leaves and, most importantly, by the flowers that resemble tropical moths or fabulous butterflies sitting on tall peduncles. We will tell you about the nuances of caring for the Phalaenopsis orchid at home.

Varieties

Among the many varieties, photos and names of popular varieties and hybrids of phalaenopsis are described below.

Phalaenopsis cultivar "Sogo" is a hybrid of an orchid, miniature size has many beautiful flowers, ideal as an ornamental pot plant. Sogo varieties have variegated leaves. Varieties: Sogo lawrence tiger yellow-red, Sogo relax burgundy, Sogo yukidian white, Sogo vivien pink with a pattern, Gotris (Sogo gotris) yellow-pink, Sogo shito yellow with a white center, red star (sogo red star) red, stewartiana (Sogo stuartiana) white with brown dots on a yellow background, pikachu (Sogo pikachu) orange-red, david (Sogo david) yellow-pink, pony (Sogo pony) brindle yellow-red, meili (Sogo meili) yellow.

Varieties with large flowers: big lip (big lip) phalaenopsis with a large wide lip, big bang (big bang) splash pattern, big chili (big chili) large pink flowers.

Wild cat

Phalaenopsis "wild cat" is one of those orchids that remain in the memory. The flowers have a special "print" reminiscent of a "wild cat". Height 60-70 cm.

Liodoro

Phalaenopsis Liodoro is hybrid Phalaenopsis deventeriana (amabilis x amboinensis) and Phalaenopsis violacea.

Phalaenopsis purple (Phalaenopsis violacea) is native to the northwest of Sumatra, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Phalaenopsis amabilis is mainly found in China and Indonesia. Phalaenopsis amboinenses originally comes from Indonesia.

Phalaenopsis Liodoro has wide, almost lemon-green leaves. The flowers bloom for about a couple of months or even years, they look like wax, they have a long-lasting smell.

Peloric

Phalaenopsis Peloric, native to Thailand, Sumatra, Malaysia, Borneo, Java and Burma, has a fleshy flattened inflorescence, gives successive flowers, each flower blooms for several years, has 6-12 beautiful waxy, fragrant 5 cm flowers. Peloric flowers have a unique appearance.

Legato

Phalaenopsis Legato has flowers painted in amazing colors of gold, pink, lilac shades with a pearl overflow.

Philadelphia

Phalaenopsis Philadelphia is a resistant primary hybrid, the result of crossing between two botanical species: Phalaenopsis schilleriana and Phalaenopsis stuartiana.

Phalaenopsis Philadelphia has a short stem masked by leaves. Leaves, numerous, large (up to 25 cm long, 8-10 cm wide), thick, mottled (dark green with gray spots). Roots, numerous, relatively thick. The inflorescence is large and has many flowers. Flowers, large (6 cm), pink color: lighter in color at the edges and more stable in the middle of the petals and sepals. Lateral sepals have many small reddish-purple spots. Lateral petals have red-brown spots. Blooms in spring.

Cleopatra

Height, 25-38 inches, flowers are yellow and pink in various combinations.

Phalaenopsis Cleopatra has one growing stem, forming one or two alternating thick, fleshy, compact leaves. Flowering lasts for several weeks. Flowering time, winter, spring. The maximum height is 1 meter.

Prince

The variety has many different varieties, the flower can be of any shape, size and color depending on the variety. They have striking moth-like flowers, giving the plants the common name "moth". Grow well at home with central heating. They need a bright place protected from direct sunlight and a warm place.

Varieties: Black Prince, Leopard Prince, Ever Spring Prince, Lottery Prince.

Kaoda Twinkle

Phalaenopsis kaoda twinkle, a small hybrid with waxy flowers of the original color texture! Flowering periods, spring-summer. Daytime temperature 18-30 ° C, at night 16-25 ° C. The flowers are purple-white. Height, approx. 55 cm.

Below are photos and names of the most famous phalaenopsis species.

Phalaenopsis is pleasant

Filipino species Phalaenopsis pleasant (Phalaenopsis amabilis). Leaves are elliptical, oblong, up to fifteen inches long and three and a half inches wide, evenly dark green above and purple below. Inflorescence up to a meter long, arcuate, simple or branched, green with a purple spot, with numerous flowers. Sepals and petals are white, often with a delicate tide; dorsal sepals are oblong, lateral sepals are ovate-falcate. The petals are rhomboid with a tapered claw, about twice as wide as the sepals. The three-petal lip is colored yellow and marked purple at the base and along the base of the side petals.

Phalaenopsis equestris

Phalaenopsis equestris, a species native to the northern islands of the Philippines and southern Taiwan. Mature plants have a leaf length of 6-10 inches. Inflorescences are long, straight, curved, often branched on larger plants. There are 4-30 flowers on the inflorescence. The inflorescences bloom in half sequentially, the ends of the inflorescences continuing to grow and bloom for months or years. Phalaenopsis equestris produces many cakes (kids) from the base of the plant and the nodes along the inflorescences or the top of the inflorescence. Cakes can form large, dense plant specimens. The flower color is white or light pink. The plant will flower better at intermediate temperatures, loves warmth and moisture. In winter months it may miss flowering, instead of producing inflorescences, forms cakes. Popular cultivar Phalaenopsis equestris Graz.

Phalaenopsis cut

What could be more beautiful than a bouquet of orchids? Bouquets made up of tropical varieties of orchids are presented as rarely as they are treated to real aged French champagne. From the 19th century until today, these are the most expensive cut flowers. Only certain types of orchids, including Phalaenopsis, can stand for many days and even weeks and retain their freshness and aroma.

If you decide to purchase cut Phalaenopsis, pay attention, first of all, to its petals and sepals.

• Flowers with soft, thin, opaque petals and sepals are generally not durable.
• Vitreous tepals and protruding veins occur in withering flowers.

If the petals and sepals are strong to the touch, and even hard, but in appearance - shiny, like wax - then such a Phalaenopsis can be bought, it will stand in a vase of water for a long time. And you can still extend his life. Here are some tips:

1. If you buy Phalaenopsis during the fall-winter period, try to pack it carefully to protect it from the cold and wind.
2. Do not turn the bouquet upside down - the transport liquid will leak out of the capsule.
3. If you brought home a bouquet from the cold, do not rush to release it from the packaging. Let him stand in a warm room for at least an hour. A sudden change in temperature can be more dangerous for a flower than a lack of water.
4. Before placing the flower in the vase, use a sharp knife to renew the oblique cut of the stem under running water. This operation must be repeated every two to three days in order to avoid blockage of the conducting vessels through which the water rises to the flowers.
5. The water in the vase must be clean and soft. Use boiled, distilled, or filtered water just above room temperature. You shouldn't add any preservatives to the water. Moreover, special inscriptions are usually written on the labels of preservatives: “Attention! Not for orchids! " You don't have to completely change the water in the vase, just add a little fresh portion.
6. Keep in mind that cut phalaenopsis, as well as in a pot, do not like cold and drafts. In no case should they be stored in the refrigerator. However, they also do not like the bright sun, dry indoor air and heat above 32 grams.
7. Do not place a vase of flowers next to a vase filled with fruit. Ripe fruits release ethylene gas, which shortens the life of the orchid flowers. Withered flowers also have the property of emitting gas. Therefore, they should be immediately removed from the peduncle and, fallen, from the table.

Phalaenopsis can be combined with other colors. For example, in a bouquet with roses, peony tulips or peonies, it looks great. Only its stem should be placed in a common vase in a separate container or test tube with distilled water. Then he is not afraid if a preservative is added to the common vase to extend the life of the bouquet. Cut branches of Phalaenopsis are appreciated and loved for their durability, tenderness and high decorativeness. They are so beautiful, colorful and extraordinary that they are often used when decorating weddings.

Features of the

Phalaenopsis orchid combines the most common varieties of orchids that are best suited for growing at home. There are more than 65 subspecies of them. In nature, such flowers are most often found in Indonesia or Australia. In addition, it can be the mountain ranges of Asia.

This flower got its name due to its similarity to a butterfly, since in translation from Greek this word, unusual for us, means "night butterfly".

Let's try to give it a clearer description. This plant is a small herbaceous bush with dense leaves at the very base of the flower, which very smoothly pass into the roots. After moisture enters the horse system, they turn green. After all, it is thanks to them that the whole plant receives not only moisture, but also all other useful substances.

Phalaenopsis leaves are oblong. Several times a year (most often in autumn and spring), flower stalks appear from them, the number of which can vary from one to six. They can contain from several flowers to 50 or more pieces - it all depends on the type of plant. Flower sizes also vary. Their diameter can be either small (only 2 centimeters) or huge (up to 14 centimeters).

If we talk about the natural color of Phalaenopsis, then it is white. However, thanks to the crossing of various varieties, breeders have bred a large number of hybrids with different colors. The most popular are white orchids, as well as pale pink.

How is phalaenopsis different from doritenopsis?

Doritenopsis is a species of the genus Phalaenopsis, was obtained by crossing orchids - doritis and phalaenopsis itself.

But there are still differences between them:

• The main visual difference will be the color of the flowers: in Doritenopsis, they are large in size and have a crimson color with a pink color. Has a more varied range and size. In all other respects, their structure will be absolutely the same;

  
  Doritenopsis is a species of the genus Phalaenopsis from the orchid family.

• The care also differs: for most boles it is recommended to dry the substrate a little, but for doritenopsis this is unacceptable. Dry filler in a pot can adversely affect development, the stem can shed flowers and buds. In addition, the temperature regime is also slightly different: for doritenopsis, it is enough to maintain +20 all year round with high humidity, for phalaenopsis this temperature is suitable only during the dormant period. For flowering and reproduction, they need higher thermometer readings.

The answer to the question of what is the difference between phalaenopsis and dorithenopsis is simple - the phalaenopsis is a genus, and dorithenopsis is a species of this genus.

Top dressing and pruning boles are carried out identically.

How to determine the type of flower?

Under the name of this flower, you can find a large number of completely dissimilar plants. Some of them have long stems on which there are only a few flowers, others may be with small stems, completely dotted with flowers.

To find out which variety is in front of you, and also learn to distinguish between them, you need to know that phalaenopsis are of two types:

• high, growing up to one meter;
• mini-phalaenopsis that do not grow taller than 30 centimeters.

In addition, they can be identified by their colors.

• Monochromatic... Most often these are varietal plants that have only one tone. The most popular among them are white, yellow, pink and even purple phalaenopsis.
• Multicolor... These include varieties with two-color petals, stripes, speckled.

And some plants can be fragrant, while others, on the contrary, do not smell at all. But this does not mean that they are somehow worse than their fragrant counterparts. In addition, each phalaenopsis variety differs in the number of flowers on the peduncle.

All plant varieties can be divided into several groups.

• Hybrid... These varieties were born thanks to the work of many breeders.

• Miniature... Such flowers are most often bought for gifts, since they do not take up much space, and also have a wide range of colors.

• Taiwanese... These plants are completely dotted with large flowers of the most unusual colors.

Orchid

Orchid is called all bolesbelonging to the orchid family. Scientists claim that it is the oldest on our planet.

According to scientists, the orchid is one of the oldest plants on earth.

It includes more than 75,000 species, among which there are also phalaenopsis. There are three groups of plants:

• Epiphytic, or growing without land;
• Terrestrialthat need soil for development and growth;
• Underground, they spend their whole life under a layer of soil.

They are distributed throughout the globe., cannot grow only in the Far North and in the deserts of the planet.

Ideal growing conditions are tropical forests with high air humidity. There are varieties that thrive in temperate latitudes.

Most species vary greatly, the attitude towards the family is determined by:

• On accrete stamens of flowers;
• By pollen that cannot spread itself through the air.

Important! Orchids need insects to pollinate.

Varieties

To know more about the species of this plant, you need to get to know them better. Consider the most common subspecies of phalaenopsis.

"Big Lip"

Translated, this name means "big lips". And this is actually so, because the middle part of the flower has a fairly large and unfolded petal, which is located below.

The following varieties of this species are worth noting for their beauty and popularity.

• "Leontine"... Such a phalaenopsis has a white color with small denticles on the "lip" of this plant.

• "Melody"... Quite an unusual flower with a fuchsia border. Its petals are decorated with bright streaks of crimson or burgundy.

• "Multiflora" Is a diverse subspecies with a wide range of colors. Its flowers are up to 6 centimeters in diameter.

Golden

This phalaenopsis subspecies includes a large number of interesting varieties. All of them differ in their shades: from bright lemon to pale gold. Moreover, they are quite varied.

• Golden Solid. Most often this is a plant with two peduncles that grow up to 75 centimeters. They bloom several times a year, and the flowering duration reaches two months.

• Golden Sarah. This type of flower has several peduncles, the height is up to 35 centimeters. The flowers can be up to 6 centimeters in diameter, and they also smell like caramel. They bloom two or three times a year.

• Golden Beauty. Differs in rather large flowers and several high peduncles (up to 75 centimeters). It also blooms twice a year. One bloom can last up to two months.

• Golden Trezor. It differs in that its shape is a bit like a golden bird. However, it is quite difficult to get such a phalaenopsis variety.

"Red Lips"

Translated from English, the name means "red lips". And this is true, because in its shape it is their flower that resembles. In the middle of the flower there are “lips” of a red or pale red hue, which are surrounded by white delicate petals, in shape a little like a heart.

This subspecies has several peduncles with a dozen large flowers. It blooms several times a year with a duration of one and a half months.

"Charmer"

This is another adorable representative of orchids. It has strong fleshy roots, which allows the plant to survive even in harsh conditions. Its leaves are also powerful - a rich green shade with a glossy sheen. A mature plant usually has about eight large leaves. As for the flower, there is also something to admire. The standard butterfly shape looks more unusual due to its bright yellow color. Interspersed with a burgundy color complement this basis. True, their number, as well as the color saturation, depends on the growing conditions of the orchid.

Such a sunny miracle blooms twice a year. The flowering period lasts three to six months.

It turns out that with proper care, an orchid can delight the eye with its colorful flowers all the time.

"Pleasant"

This variety of phalaenopsis also known as "Amabilis"... It can be recognized by its oblong leaf shape. They are fleshy and grow quite densely. The length of the peduncle is also impressive - it can reach up to one and a half meters. On it are pale white flowers in the form of butterflies. They are also quite large - they can reach up to 10 centimeters in diameter.

This orchid is often used by breeders to create new hybrid varieties. It can be easily crossed with other plants with amazing results.

Her smell will always be very delicate and pleasant. This is another positive feature of this variety of orchids. They bloom for about four months a year. As a rule, the flowering period occurs in the winter, more precisely, in the months from October to March.

"Schiller"

The leaves of this orchid remain dark green only on the outside. From the inside they are "painted" in a reddish-brown color. The outer surface is covered with light silvery stripes. It is because of this peculiarity in the Philippine Islands that the flower was named "tiger". Like the leaves, the flower stem of the orchid is red-brown, with many branches. Flowers are medium in size (up to 8 centimeters in diameter). For the entire flowering period, more than 200 of them can bloom, and it lasts from late spring to mid-winter.

"Stuart"

Such a plant is distinguished by an unusual coloring of leaves and roots - they have a silvery shade. There are from one to several peduncles with numerous flowers, which are up to 6 centimeters in diameter. Blossoms "Stuart" for about three months starting in January.

"Giant"

Such a phalaenopsis is distinguished by huge leaves that reach one meter in length. But the peduncles are very small, their height is only 35–45 centimeters. In addition, up to 25 flowers can be located on them at the same time. They all exude a delicate citrus scent.

Very often breeders use this variety to develop new hybrid varieties.

"Deerornogiy"

The plant got this name due to the interesting structure of the peduncle, a bit reminiscent of deer antlers. At the same time, the peduncle itself is small - from ten to thirty centimeters, on which up to 14 flowers are placed at the same time. All of them are small - up to 4 centimeters in diameter - and have a golden color with a reddish tint. And also there are small brown spots on them. The leaves are light green in color. Deer-horned phalaenopsis can bloom at different times of the year.

"Ambonskiy"

On this plant, four oblong leaves can be placed at once. Their length reaches 20 centimeters, the same length and peduncle, which lengthens every year. In addition, a new stem appears from the peduncle every year, sometimes such stems are branched. Each of them can have several flowers at the same time. Their number can grow more and more every year.

This phalaenopsis blooms almost all year, and the peak of flowering occurs in the summer. The flower shades are completely different: cream, lemon and orange with small veins of brick color.

"Pink"

This variety belongs to miniature phalaenopsis. It has low peduncles (up to 25 centimeters), on which small pink flowers are placed. There can be up to 12 of them on one stem.

How to choose Phalaenopsis in the store

You will be amazed how many Phalaenopsis varieties are on sale, what a variety of bizarre shapes, colors and aromas there are. Choose what you like. It is advisable to choose a butterfly orchid during the flowering period and with a large number of unopened buds. Then there will be a guarantee that you will admire the charming bloom for a long time.

Pay attention to the leaves of the specimen you like - in a healthy flower, they should be dark green, fleshy, with a waxy sheen. If the leaves are withered, slightly wrinkled or with suspicious spots, do not take this copy, even if the seller will give it back at half price. Examine the roots just as closely. A healthy Phalaenopsis will have strong, light green rhizomes that sit tightly in the substrate. They can protrude outward, this is normal. But brown, darkened and drying roots should not be. If the potted plant is very loose, then the root system is generally not viable. Do not buy such copies.

Prices for different varieties of Phalaenopsis are different, from 300 rubles to several thousand. If the plant has a minor defect, and you are offered to buy it at a well-discounted price, evaluate your ability to grow as a grower. If you have experience in growing orchids, you can buy one. Care and maintenance will help you restore the decorative effect of the flower, and you will definitely wait for its magnificent flowering.

Intergeneric hybrids

In order to get good and stable varieties, very often experts resort to crossing different types of phalaenopsis. However, sometimes you can get a good variety as a result of crossing the plant with other varieties of orchids. Among them it is worth noting such as "Peloric", "Red Cat" other.

It is worth noting among them such varieties of phalaenopsis, which are often called pelorics. They are obtained by natural mutation or by crossing different varieties.

Is it the same thing or not?

Can you compare genus and family? This question is incorrect, since the Phalaenopsis genus belongs to the Orchid family. All species and genera related to Orchids are called orchids in indoor floriculture.

Thus, we can say with confidence that one should not look for common features and differences between orchids and phalaenopsis, since the orchid is a family, and the phalaenopsis is a genus within this vast family.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.

Landing

In order for the plant to please everyone with its beauty for a long time, it is necessary to plant it correctly. To do this, you need to choose the best soil that can be bought in specialized stores. It must contain all the necessary components necessary for the normal development of the flower.

If the substrate is made independently, then its composition must necessarily include the following components: charcoal, expanded clay, polystyrene, as well as sphagnum moss and bark.

Besides, you need to prepare a transparent pot with many holes... Then you need to carefully remove the plant from the purchased pot, shaking off the old soil from it. At the same time, you should remove all the roots that have been damaged, and sprinkle the cuts with coal powder or cinnamon.

Then, drainage should be laid on the bottom of the pot, the thickness of which should not exceed two centimeters. Then carefully lay the roots all over the pot and sprinkle with bark and charcoal. Sphagnum moss can be used as mulching.

Phalaenopsis care includes several stages:

• proper watering, which should be done no more than twice a week;
• sufficient illumination, since all orchids love a lot of light for 14 hours (daytime);
• observance of temperature conditions - the air temperature should not be higher than 25 degrees, and also not lower than 15.

Summing up, we can say that phalaenopsis are not only beautiful, but also very diverse plants. They differ not only in color, but also in different sizes. In addition, they are perfect as flowers that are suitable for the home.

For information on how to properly care for orchids, see the next video.

Caring for the Phalaenopsis orchid at home

Take care of the condition of your new pet immediately upon arrival home from the store. The flower has a hard time changing its place of residence. If you have chosen a beautiful strong plant, in which all the roots look strong and healthy, and the peduncle, tall and resilient, is strewn with flowers of extraordinary beauty, then the best thing is to leave the flower alone for a couple of weeks. How to care for Phalaenopsis at this time? No way! At this time, neither watering, nor feeding, nor replanting Phalaenopsis is necessary. It is also not necessary to put it on the windowsill next to other flowers, let it stand aside, in partial shade, as if in quarantine. Inspect the flower regularly. If the substrate in the pot consists of large pieces of bark, the roots are gray-green, the plant looks healthy, then it does not need a transplant. Move the pot with the plant to the place of honor prepared for it among other green pets and start taking care of it according to all the rules.

Phalaenopsis transplant

Healthy Phalaenopsis bushes are transplanted no more than once every two to three years, when its substrate turns into dust. But there are good reasons to transplant a plant urgently.

For example, during quarantine, you found that on Phalaenopsis the leaves began to wither and sag, and the soil, drying out, became like a caked washcloth. Or if the plant has black spots or other signs of rot on its roots. In both cases, Phalaenopsis should be transplanted into another pot with a new substrate, and without waiting for the end of flowering.

Remove the plant from the planting container, gently rinse its root system under a warm shower. If the soil is poorly washed, leave the orchid in a bowl of water for a while. Then free the roots from the soil, shake off the water. Trim rotten, damaged and overly long roots.Sprinkle the slices with crushed activated charcoal or charcoal. Leave Phalaenopsis for a while, you can overnight, in a dry basin, so that all slices are tightened and dry. In the morning, plant the plant in a new, previously disinfected pot in a soil mixture suitable for epiphytic plants. At the bottom of the pot, lay a layer of the largest pieces of substrate, and with smaller pieces of substrate, fill the voids between the roots to the base of the rosette. Leave the top of the pot two to three cm free so that as the aerial roots grow, there is a place where to add the substrate. A large plant with dense, heavy leaves must be tied to a support and strengthened so that it does not stagger.

If the root system of a flower has been severely damaged, it will be difficult for it to recover. Help the plant. Place the flower and pot in a plastic bag for a couple of weeks to create a greenhouse environment for the diseased plant with constant humidity and temperature. Air it out from time to time. Pre-cut the peduncle and place it in a vase with settled water. It is better to sacrifice a flower stalk than to lose the entire flower. A cut flower stalk with butterfly flowers will comfort you for a long time.

It may be interesting: Types and varieties of Phalaenopsis orchids

Other reasons for transplanting Phalaenopsis into a new pot:

• too small volume of the planting container. This can be determined not only by the roots that stick out above the pot, but by the roots that have filled the entire pot inside and displaced the substrate. Phalaenopsis should be transplanted into a pot that is slightly larger in size so that, in addition to the roots, a sufficient amount of substrate can fit into it. It is better to transplant after flowering.
• if all the leaves fell to one side during transportation, the peduncle with its support is also tilted, healthy roots stick out too much. Transplant the flower into a normal pot with good support and fill the voids with a suitable substrate.

If the orchid feels good, the leaves are elastic, the roots are light green, alive - we do not recommend disturbing the flower. If you want to transplant Phalaenopsis into a new beautiful flowerpot, then it is better to do this in early spring and only after the orchid has finished blooming.

In any case, after each transplant, do not water the plant for the first three to four days, let the disturbed roots tighten their wounds.

The soil

Phalaenopsis are epiphytic plants. In the wild, they grow on trees. Their roots are airy. They are used not only to strengthen the plant on the bark and branches of trees, but also to nourish the plant from the air. The flower also receives moisture and oxygen with the help of its powerful roots. Therefore, Phalaenopsis categorically do not grow in ordinary garden or forest soil and do not tolerate prolonged flooding. The substrate for them needs a looser, lighter, moisture and breathable. Ready-made soil for epiphytic or orchid plants is suitable. We recommend that you study the composition of the soil. Sometimes it is not suitable for growing Phalaenopsis due to its high moisture capacity.

It is not at all difficult to prepare the soil on your own. Collect bark from fallen trees in a pine forest, dense, without resin. Grind it into 1 to 3 cm pieces, add the same size pieces of charcoal, styrofoam, and wine corks. Stir. Place in a saucepan and simmer for 10 minutes. The composition of the substrate is a little strange, but it will work as a support for a Butterfly Orchid! If the air in the room is dry, you can add a little sphagnum moss to the substrate, just a little, otherwise it will fill the entire space and prevent the roots from breathing freely. In addition, a large amount of moss will retain moisture, the excess of which can harm the roots. In any case, you should not fill the pot too much with substrate, so as not to interfere with the air circulation between the roots.

Humidity

The tropical beauty grows best in high ambient humidity.If it is not enough, Phalaenopsis may stop growing, the buds will stop opening on it, the flowers will begin to dry out. It is necessary to maintain the humidity in the room with the flower within 60 - 80%. The minimum permissible humidity is 30-40%. At low humidity and high temperatures, place the flower pot in a high tray with damp expanded clay or pebbles. Under no circumstances should the pot stand in the water. The water can be poured into wide containers or bowls that can be placed around the orchid pot. Phalaenopsis loves regular spraying of its leaves and the surrounding air in the morning, especially during those periods of his life when the heating is turned on in the houses. By nightfall, there should be no water in the leaf axils and at the point of growth.

Phalaenopsis pot and watering

For this orchid, a not very large translucent plastic pot or similar glass container with holes in the bottom and sides is suitable, in which the state of the substrate and root system will be constantly under your control. The plant needs a pot for support. The size of the pot should be suitable for the strong root system of the plant. In a pot that is too small, the roots will be injured and stick out, and in a pot that is too large, moisture will accumulate and the substrate will not dry out well, which will eventually lead to decay of the roots.

A translucent pot is perfect.

If you don't like the pattern of woven roots in the substrate, you can hide it by placing the pot in a wide, multi-colored planter. Drainage holes at the bottom of the pot are required, since water stagnation is not allowed due to the danger of root rot. A transparent pot is also good because you will constantly observe how the substrate dries out after the next watering. At normal humidity, healthy roots are green, drying out, they brighten. Dry substrate and light roots serve as a signal for the next watering.

If you nevertheless planted Phalaenopsis in a dark pot, you will have to feel the moisture content of the soil at the depth of the pot by touch. Gently rake the substrate one to two centimeters deep, try to see if it is damp. If it's dry, you can water again. Drain excess water from the pan. Use only settled or boiled water. Previously, they used rainwater, but with the deterioration of the ecology in cities, many harmful impurities began to appear in the precipitation.

How to water Phalaenopsis:

• in the heat - every 2-3 days;
• in spring and autumn - once a week;
• in winter - once every two weeks.

If you notice that condensation often collects on the walls of the pot between waterings, then make additional holes in the walls of the pot for better air circulation.

Let's talk about another popular way of watering Phalaenopsis. The pot with the plant is placed for two to three hours in a large container with warm, settled water so that the water covers 1/3 of the pot. This bathing can be replaced by prolonged watering - continuously, for 20 minutes, pour warm water into the pot until the substrate in the pot is completely wet and saturated with moisture in the required amount. The roots of the orchid will turn green noticeably. After bathing, place the pot in a tray so that excess water flows out of it through the drainage holes. Excess water must be drained off immediately.

If the air temperature in the room remains above 30 degrees for a long time, bathing is carried out every 5 days.

Please note that water quality is an important factor in Phalaenopsis' well-being. If you water it with tap water, even warm, then over time, rusty or white spots will appear on the leaves and roots, depending on the excess of salts in the water. It is possible to get rid of plaque with milk or lemon water, with which you need to wash the leaves of the plant. If you use distilled water for irrigation, in which there are no salts and trace elements at all, you should add fertilizers for epiphytic plants to such water when watering.It is best to water with filtered or boiled water, heated for two to three grams. above room temperature.

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Sometimes, for the cultivation of Phalaenopsis, special epiphytic wicker bamboo or wooden baskets are used, in which light green with a silvery sheen the roots of the flower develop freely, effectively twisting around the strips of the basket, both inside and outside of it.

But we do not recommend ceramic pots for growing Phalaenopsis. Powerful roots grow into the walls of such a pot and complicate the process of removing the plant from the pot during transplantation. Serious damage to the root system of the flower is possible.

Location and lighting

Phalaenopsis are very fond of good lighting. The duration of daylight hours should be at least 12 hours. A flower pot is best placed on a southeast, east or west window sill. It is better not to put on the windowsills of the southern direction - the leaves can get burned. But not far from the southern windows, on a table or hanging shelf, this orchid will grow beautifully. If you have only northern windows, only the place directly on the windowsill is suitable for the orchid.

In the period from autumn to spring, the plant will need additional lighting. Don't worry - Phalaenopsis grows well in artificial light. You can use this property of theirs when choosing a place in the back of the living room. Just keep in mind that over time, Phalaenopsis leans towards the light with its entire body. Therefore, it must be occasionally turned 180 degrees to prevent it from tipping over or falling out of the pot.

Lighting is especially necessary for a flower when forcing a peduncle and a set of buds. At this time, it is advisable to put the pot closer to the light and not disturb. Do not turn, do not rearrange from place to place. Leave these manipulations until the last bud opens. Now, at the time of flowering, you can rearrange the pot deep into the room, in a well-lit partial shade.

Temperature

Summer temperature of flower maintenance is allowed from 24 to 30 grams. Basically, this is the normal room temperature we all live at in the summer. If the temperature is above 32 grams for a long time, the flower can shed its buds and flowers, and the leaves will begin to wither. Try to keep the temperature within reasonable limits by spraying the flower and surrounding area, placing the pot in a tray of damp pebbles, and using a split system. To stimulate the formation of flower buds, we recommend keeping night temperatures five to six degrees lower than daytime ones.

In winter, the optimum temperature for the growth of Phalaenopsis is 18 - 25 grams. For a couple of days, the plant will withstand a temperature of 10-15 grams, if longer, then it is not a fact that it will not get sick. Under the influence of low temperatures, the roots of Phalaenopsis cease to absorb moisture, the plant begins to consume nutrients and water previously accumulated in the leaves. Leaves begin to wrinkle, lose their elasticity. Novice flower growers think that the orchid lacks moisture, and begin to water the plant vigorously, which aggravates the situation. Frozen roots cannot absorb water and will rot. In order to avoid such a situation, we recommend keeping a thermometer on the windowsill next to the pot to control the temperature. Place the flower pot in such a way that it does not come into contact with the cold glass.

Phalaenopsis love fresh air. Do not forget to regularly ventilate the room, even in winter, while protecting the flower from drafts, so as not to provoke any disease.

During the winter dormancy of Phalaenopsis, a couple of three weeks after flowering, it is advisable to keep the flower in a cool place, at a temperature of 15 - 17 degrees. Keep in mind - the lower the temperature, the less humidity in the room should be, less spraying, less watering. And vice versa. A temperature below 5 grams is considered critical for a flower.

How to fertilize Phalaenopsis orchid

Correctly selected fertilizers for the Phalaenopsis orchid are a very important component of its growth and flowering. These orchids get all the nutrients from their roots. Therefore, it is worth feeding it with liquid water-soluble fertilizers for orchids. Fertilizers "Kemira-Lux" are suitable in a dose reduced by 2 times. If the plant has few leaves, it needs to be fed with fertilizers for orchids, where nitrogen predominates. But don't overdo it! Read the instructions. Otherwise, the growth of green leaves will go to the detriment of peduncle formation. If there are enough leaves, from 4 to 6 in the outlet, but there is still no peduncle, then you should start feeding Phalaenopsis with fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and potassium, until the beginning of flowering.

In flower shops, before selling Phalaenopsis, they are sometimes fed to stimulate flowering with long-playing fertilizers in the form of small balls. These balls gradually dissolve in the substrate over time. Keep this in mind when considering feeding your pet for the first time. First, make sure all store-bought fertilizers are dissolved. Better to wait and give the plant a break from them for a couple of months.

The flower is usually fed once every two weeks in the summer, and once a month in the winter. During flowering and during dormancy, there is no need to feed Phalaenopsis!

The use of succinic acid is also very popular. Read more about this in the article: The use of succinic acid for orchids.

Phalaenopsis bloom

Many are wondering how to make Phalaenopsis bloom at home? Different varieties of this butterfly orchid bloom at different ages. You need to know the age of your plant. Why is your Phalaenopsis orchid not blooming? Perhaps because he is still young. If you bought a non-flowering bush, and at home it is clearly not going to please you with a flower arrow - do not be discouraged ahead of time. Some Phalaenopsis bloom at the age of one and a half years, others when they are 3 years old. You can determine the age by counting the number of shoots. An adult plant, ready for flowering, has 5 to 8 of them. If there are fewer shoots, and the orchid is gaining buds, this is not always good. It happens that a too young Phalaenopsis orchid does not have enough strength to recover after flowering, it may even die. If you have such a case, and a young specimen threw out a peduncle, it is better to cut it off.

Different varieties of Phalaenopsis bloom at different times of the year. In some, the peak of flowering occurs in late spring - summer, in others - in winter. Some bloom for two months, while others bloom for six months or more. Phalaenopsis flowers are very dense, they firmly hold on to the peduncle from a month to two. The peduncles themselves live much longer. Large-flowered Phalaenopsis bloom almost all year round due to the ability of their peduncles to elongate, branch and recruit new buds during flowering. After flowering, such peduncles should not be cut off, because they will develop and bloom more than once. In addition, so-called air "babies" are often formed on them.

It may be interesting: The use of succinic acid for orchids

An adult plant produces several peduncles per year - in mid-spring and early autumn. If the butterfly orchid has released an arrow in the fall or winter, you should take care that the flower stalk does not die due to the short daylight hours. We recommend that you purchase a phyto lamp - a special lamp for artificial illumination of plants in the dark. These lamps give a lot of light without drying up the air around the flowers. Turn on such lamps when it becomes necessary to extend the daylight hours to 10 - 12 hours.

Another prerequisite for the flowering of some Phalaenopsis varieties is the difference between day and night temperatures of 5-6 degrees, preferably throughout the year. It can be problematic to create such conditions.From late spring to early fall, these orchids can be kept outdoors. Then the difference between day and night temperatures is formed naturally. At other times, when the Phalaenopsis are indoors, at night you will have to ventilate the room with the flower well, not forgetting that orchids are afraid of drafts.

Dormant period

Phalaenopsis has faded, what to do next? After the inflorescences fall off, give Phalaenopsis a little rest. Move the pot to a darker, cool place. Reduce watering by a factor of three. Do not feed, transplant, spray. Perhaps the old lower leaves will turn yellow and dry - this is a natural process, do not be alarmed. The peduncle itself, after flowering, may dry out, then prune the orchid. In some Phalaenopsis varieties, the peduncle remains green. In this case, the following options are possible:

• You can leave the peduncle as it is. Then new buds will appear on it over time.
• You can cut the peduncle to the first bud, then over time a new peduncle will grow from this bud.
• You can cut the flower stalk completely and put it in a vase of warm clean water. Then, over time, a new kidney may appear.

Such a dormant period is simply necessary for an adult plant in order to accumulate more strength for a new flowering. In no more than three months, new buds will form on the flower, and flowering will begin.

If this did not happen, Phalaenopsis did not bloom at the right time, you need to find the reason. Read the rules for caring for Phalaenopsis from the beginning, find your mistakes and try to stimulate its flowering after a few months.

Pruning

To properly prune an orchid, you need to adhere to some rules. Be sure to make sure that the peduncle is completely dry and yellow, if you cut it off earlier, then new flowers will not appear soon, since it will take time to recover. You need to remove it so that a small stump remains at the base.

In the event that buds appear on the peduncle, before it wilted, from which new flowers or children may appear in the future, then you need cut it off a couple of centimeters above these formations... The stem is completely removed, which has no buds and is completely spoiled. After that, it is advisable to transplant the plant.

Historical reference

Now it is simply impossible to imagine that phalaenopsis was discovered relatively recently, only in the 18th century. The first discoverer is considered to be the naturalist Rumph, who made a find in the Moluccas. However, he did not pay special attention to this flower, but in 1752, the pastor from Sweden Osbek, during his stay in Ternate, one of the islands of Eastern Indonesia, discovered a flower of extraordinary beauty growing near a tree. He sent the bud to the famous naturalist Karl Linnaeus, who included it in his collection "Classification of flora and fauna", calling it the adorable Epidendrum.

The flower got its current name as a result of chance. If you look closely at the photo of a phalaenopsis flower, you will notice that it resembles the wings of a butterfly from afar. This mistake was made by Karl Blume, who mistook the plant for large butterflies that sit on the branches of a tree. So since 1825 it is customary to call it.

What are the groups of these colors?

All orchids can be divided into two large groups:

1. sympodial;
2. monopodial.

A characteristic feature of the first group is the death of the apical bud or its movement into the inflorescence. As soon as the shoot reaches a certain size, it stops growing and gives a new shoot. Also, sympodial orchids produce thick stems, which later turn into tubers (bulbs).

Attention: For monopodial orchids, on the other hand, an apical bud is characteristic. This means that the plant can grow to a length of its entire life, especially the liana or rosette species.

Thanks to such a pronounced division, it will not be difficult to distinguish one group from another, and, accordingly, understand how to grow and care for this wondrous flower. But still it should be borne in mind that each variety, species or hybrid requires an individual approach.

Colors of flowers

To determine the name of a varietal orchid of the genus Phalaenopsis by the appearance of a living flower or from a photo, it is worth focusing on the color of the flowers. Shades vary over a very wide range:

• Monochromatic (white, red, yellow, purple, lilac, pink, purple). Read about the mythical blue shade of Phalaenopsis here.
• Multicolor (flowers are striped, speckled, veined, bicolor petals).

The contrast between the shades of all the petals and the lips of the flower is recognized as a beautiful combination.

Transfer

The Phalaenopsis orchid transplant should be timely, often and without an obvious reason, this procedure does not make sense, and what is worse - it can harm the plant. The frequency of transplanting a flower should not exceed 1 time in two to three years..

An important condition for the transplant is the observance of the sequence of the transplant stages. The first thing to do is to get the flower out of the pot.... To do this without violating the integrity of the flower, you need to wrinkle the pot a little, if this does not help, then you need to cut the pot, remove the flower and put it in a basin or other convenient container. Thereafter we rinse the root system and cut off the spoiled parts of the roots, and also remove the remnants of the old substrate. Do not forget about the disinfection of the instrument, which removes unnecessary root areas, and the disinfection of the cut sites. It is recommended to remove not only unnecessary root areas, but also yellow leaves and dry peduncles.

Step-by-step instructions for transplanting Phalaenopsis orchids

After the performed operations and making sure that there is no residual water left on the flower, we leave it to dry. Drying time depends on the air temperature, but it is best to do this at night.

The latest orchid transplant procedure it will be placed in a pot with new soil and the first watering after transplantation.

General care instructions

The Phalaenopsis genus does not need special care rules, a specific irrigation regime or a place of placement. The basic principles of keeping an orchid will be clear even to a novice florist:

• The air temperature should be 18-25 C, at night drop by 3-4 C.
• The orchid loves light, but during the summer months it is necessary to protect it from sunburn. Also, the wrong concentration of lighting can affect the size of the leaves and the number of buds.
• A moderate humidity level is preferable - 45-60%. Dry or too humid air will negatively affect orchid flowering. Spraying as an additional source of moisture will not work; it is fraught with the appearance of rot on the leaves and roots. For these purposes, it is better to substitute a pallet with damp pebbles under the pot.
• Drafts must be completely eliminated.
• The regularity of watering depends on the season: in the summer it will not be superfluous to irrigate the plant 1-2 times a week, in the winter watering should be reduced.

The most important rule when caring for phalaenopsis is not to overdo it. If in doubt, whether it is worth giving the next portion of top dressing or watering once again, you should refrain.

Vanda orchid: photo and description of the flower

There are 53 species of plants in the genus Vanda, which grow naturally in tropical regions of Asia and Australia. Among flower growers, wanda orchids, as in the photo, are considered a real treasure. And this judgment is well founded.

Both species and hybrid plants amaze with surprisingly graceful bright flowers on long racemose inflorescences. An adult specimen sometimes forms not one, but several peduncles, which turns the bush into a spectacular bouquet with butterfly flowers. Corollas can have a uniform and variegated color in the widest range.The vanda orchid has beautiful erect or lodging shoots with juicy opposite leaves and powerful roots up to two meters long. Such a look cannot fail to attract attention. And it is not surprising that in the video, orchids of this genus fascinate and make the heart flutter of both novice florists and connoisseurs of tropical cultures.

Cymbidium orchid: photo and flower features

The types of orchids grown in a pot culture that are familiar to flower growers from photos and names can have different sizes and structures. Cymbidium is one of the most interesting orchid species in home collections. In nature, plants easily reach two meters in height. But as domestic green pets, not so tall varieties are used.

With a growth of 50 to 100 cm, the cymbidium orchid, as in the photo, reveals extremely bright and large flowers. The corolla of this plant can reach 13 centimeters in diameter, and the color options for powerful racemose inflorescences simply cannot be counted! The uniqueness of this genus is a long, up to six months flowering, as well as the aroma of some varieties.

Wanda

The wanda orchid is the only species in the world with blue flowers. In addition, the petals can be purple, pink, or white. This genus is considered one of the most beautiful. It includes 53 species.

Monopodial orchid can grow up to 1 m in height and give up to 4 peduncles. Bulb does not form. Each peduncle blooms from 3 to 15 buds. The flowering period is 2-3 months.

Yellow orchid

This species is compact in size. The height of the stem is up to 50 cm, up to 50 flowers are formed on it. The size of the buds is average, the color of the petals is often yellow. Blotches of pink on the sponge or at the base of the petals are possible.

A delicate aroma with honey notes is characteristic. With proper care, the yellow orchid blooms for up to 6 months.

Hieroglyphic

Another interesting variety of phalaenopsis is Hieroglyphic. The plant itself is quite small - its leaves and peduncles do not grow more than 30 cm in length, but its distinctive feature is a special color of flowers. In just one period, no more than 3 or 4 flowers grow on the peduncle, which open and remain for about a month almost simultaneously. The main color of the petals is white, and it is covered with numerous dots or strokes of a yellowish-lemon hue, which together form a pattern that looks like hieroglyphs.

Which ones are hybrid?

Among flower growers, interspecific phalaenopsis hybrids are common:

1. Doritaenopsis (Doritenopsis) with Doritis (Doritis).
2. Renanthopsis with Renanthera.
3. Vandaenopsis with Vanda.
4. Asconopsis (Asconopsis) with Ascocentrum (Ascocentrum).

The most popular are hybrids with Doritis pulherrim... It is a short plant with short and narrow leaves.

Hybrid varieties are one large group of orchids, both natural and artificial. Today there are 1000 garden hybrids. They have large flowers, the diameter of which is 10 cm.The color can be white, pink, carmine. Bright stripes and specks are scattered on the petals.

Most popular types

The most popular varieties of this amazing plant include:

1. Cerise streep... The orchid has medium-sized pink-lilac petals. Pronounced dark pink streaks run along them. The lip is yellow with pink stripes.
2. Paradise... This variety is distinguished by elongated petals. Their color is yellow, and purple specks are scattered over them.
3. Pending bright... The flower is distinguished by large white-crimson petals and a bright yellow-crimson lip. This variety can be partially attributed to red orchids.
4. Malibu chablis... These are large white flowers with a crimson-white lip.
5. Sleido sever... The flower is medium in size with slightly elongated petals. Their color is bright yellow with purple streaks and a bright crimson lip.
6. Solden bell... The flowers are scarlet in size, the color of the petals is yellow-green. They have a brown mesh on them. The lip of the orchid is yellow-red.
7. Chromium... The petals are white-green, the lip is bright snow-white. The outer edge of the petal is much wider than the inner one.