Phalaenopsis moth orchids for sale at garden center

Perhaps this past year a friend gifted you a lovely moth orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.). Late summer and early fall is an excellent time to re-bloom it, if you live in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 8. The overall health of the plant should be good. Moth orchids require a fluctuation of between 15 – 20°F in day/night air temperatures for 4-6 week period to initiate flowering. Flower stalk(s) should appear 4-6 months later.

Moth orchids thrive outdoors in the spring and summer months at temperatures between 50 and 90°F. By late summer, the cooler temps have triggered the flowering mechanism. Occasionally plants must be moved indoors on cool (<50°F) nights. In the fall moth orchids are moved to a window with an eastern exposure to the morning sun. Direct morning sunlight may burn orchid leaves in the spring and summer months, but not in the fall and winter.

In the fall plants do benefit from re-potting.  Use a commercial orchid mix available at many local garden centers and big hardware store chains.  Remove the pot and inspect the quality of the root system. Clip off broken, shriveled or rooted roots using a sharp knife or shears. If the roots are over-crowded in the old container, re-pot in a container slightly larger. Water the orchid thoroughly after potting, and wait 2-3 weeks before fertilizing it the first time.

Fertilize orchids weekly in spring, summer and fall with a high phosphorus-based orchid fertilizer. During the winter, feed once monthly. Group plants together sitting in shallow trays filled with moistened gravel. Mist leaves one or more times daily to raise room humidity around the orchids.

In the late winter and spring one or more flower stalks should emerge.  Use a twist’em to tie stalk(s) to a 12-18 inch tall stake as needed. Rotate the plant every 2-3 days to keep floral stalk growing straight. After all flower petals have fallen, remove the spent floral stalk.