Do you know orchids in Victorian England referenced a gift for someone you held in great affection? This makes them the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Of course, the real trick is how to look after your Moth Orchid, also known as Phalaenopsis.
Tricks of the Trade
Place them in a warm, light area and water them about once a week in winter, and twice a week in summer. Feed them weekly with a liquid fertiliser in the warmer weather. The cool night temperatures are what triggers flowering, so don’t keep the heater on overnight! When all the flowers have faded, cut them just below where the first flower dropped off. This will encourage a secondary branching of flower buds, increasing your blooming period into later winter. All going to plan, you should get about 5 months of blooms.
Grow Tips
Moth orchids are a great way of adding living cut flowers that bloom for up to half the year. 5 tips to help them thrive:
- Place them in a warm, light area
- Water them about once a week in winter, and twice a week in summer.
- Feed them weekly with a liquid fertiliser in the warmer weather.
- When all the flowers have faded, cut them just below where the first flower dropped off to encourage more flowers.
- The cool night temperatures are what triggers flowering, so don’t keep the heater on overnight!
By: Meredith Kirton