Giant Eagle® features phalaenopsis orchids, also known as the butterfly orchid, throughout the year.
The plant derives this name from the shape of its flowers which resemble a butterfly and is a tropical plant particularly found in the tropical regions of Australia and South-east Asia. Phalaenopsis usually grows on trees, but also grows on airy soil (humus), on rocks or in crevices. Your best chance at finding this orchid growing wild would be in the vicinity of brooks and rivers. Phalaenopsis belongs to the plant group of epiphytes, “air plants” which grow on other plants, but without taking nutrients from the host. It lives on nutrients left by birds on the tree-stump and on nutrients carried by rainwater.
Here are few helpful care tips to ensure that your orchids last you for many months to come.
Watering:
Water your plant about one time per week under average home conditions. One method is to take the pot/plant to the sink, pour water through, allow to drain, and then return to the outer cover pot. A fail safe way to water is to add about three to four ice cubes to the surface of the pot one time per week – this gives enough water to satisfy the plant, but not so much that it is left sitting in water. The biggest problem is over-watering, especially while the plant is in its outer pot. An orchid should never be left in standing water.
Feeding:
To promote beautiful blooms and strong root development, feed every 2 weeks using a fertilizer such as Miracle Grow® Orchid Feed, available at Giant Eagle®.
Repotting:
Repotting is only needed when the original potting material has decomposed significantly.
Use a prepared orchid mix, such as Miracle Grow® Orchid Potting Mix, or straight bark or sphagnum moss. Gently remove the plant from the original pot, carefully shake or tear away old media (add to a compost bin). Hold the plant in the new slightly larger pot, being sure to tuck in any roots, and add media while you position the plant. Planting depth should be the same as it was before. You can add a stake to keep the plant in the desired position.
Keeping quality:
With proper watering, an orchid with a few open flowers and a number of unopened buds can last anywhere from three to six months. Plants near ripening fruit will not last as long as plants never exposed to ethylene.
Re-blooming:
There are two ways to re-bloom an orchid.
- After the flush of blooms on a spike has been spent, a spike may produce a new branch at one of the bumps along the spike. If the node is covered with a green scale and has a noticeable bump (either visually or by feel), trim the spike back to just above this node, keep the plant watered properly and eventually a new somewhat smaller branch may emerge.
- If the nodes are covered with a brown scale, cut the spent spike just above the point where it emerged between the leaves. Move the plant to a spot where it gets good light (like an east window), and where there is a difference between day and night temperatures of about 10°C. Be sure to water and fertilize the plant because the plant needs to expand a new leaf before it can make a new spike. You should get a new spike within a year. Some varieties may bloom twice a year, some may need longer than a year.