Orchid Care Tips Blog

Phalaenopsis Rare Vintage ‘Private Reserve’ AM/AOS.

I’m not saying you need to go out and buy this one particular novelty Orchid… but you can learn from this Orchid. When you are out shopping for pink, yellow and white spotted and striped Phalaenopsis Orchids, yes, often you will get less flowers. But, you get a wonderful compact plant with individual flowers that will often last a long time! You can see this plant has a number of small buds right behind the open flowers that are weeks to months away. So, when these flowers are done blooming in 1-3 months, you’ll have more flowers open. That means this Orchid can be in bloom for 5-6 months or more!

One more important item about novelty Phals. Many have Doritaenopsis, or Dtps. in cross breeding. If they do, this is a good thing! I’ve had some amazing plants that are seedlings, from to parents like this:

Phalaenopsis Ruby Star x Doritaenopsis Emerald. You can often get an improved plant by choosing one of these. Or, the name tag may have abbreviations, and look like this: Phal. Green Beauty x Dtps. Diamond Blue.

So, yes, the names I just mentioned in the previous paragraph are sample names, but the part in bold is what I’m focusing on. Any questions, add comments to this blog and I’ll answer them.

And, please remember, the most important Orchid care tip to keep long lasting Phalaenopsis flowers is to have a humidity tray! Here is a good humidity tray from Amazon.com.

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This photo has a good representation of the colors of Phalaenopsis Orchids you will find for sale. Interestingly, I find the longest blooming types, on one flower stem, are the spotted pink and yellow Phalaenopsis Orchids.

The pink and white flower Phalaenopsis Orchids with long flower spikes can bloom for a long time, but it usually is necessary, after flowering is done, to cut the flower spike just below the top node.

Some of my favorite Phalaenopsis Orchids are those with very thick, waxy substance, as I’ve found those individual flowers to be the longest blooming. More coming tomorrow evening about Phalaenopsis Orchids…

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We’re now featuring the easiest Orchids to grow. We will be posting at least every evening or two great information for you focusing on, in order of importance:

1. Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium Orchid plants
2. Other Phalaenopsis Orchid plant varieties
3. Other Dendrobium Orchid plants varieties
4. Oncidium Orchids
5. Oncidium relatives
6. other easy to care for Orchids

Above are various Phalaenopsis Orchids. There are many colors of Phalaenopsis Orchids, including pink, white, yellow, striped, spotted, red, purple, and anything in between blending these colors. Phalaenopsis Orchids are the easiest Orchids to care for, and also are one of the longest blooming, 2-3 months on average.

Phalaenopsis Orchids prefer shade, with some indirect bright light at times, and are to be watered roughly every week. If your environment has dry air, and the plant is drying out fast, water more often. And, if you notice the plant is not drying out at all, water less often. The best way to know when to water is to pick up the pot and feel how heavy the plant is before and then after watering. Then, when you are ready to water, lift the plant to be able to tell if your Orchid needs watering the next time. We will be writing more about Phalaenopsis Orchids in coming days.

These are Dendrobium Orchids. These in the photo above are the most common Dendrobiums - Phalaenopsis type Dendrobiums. Blooms overall last about 2-3 months, and each stem lasts about 1-2 months. The reason they last 2-3 months overall is usually there are a number of flower stems.

Dendrobium Orchids are very easy to care for, liking to have their mix dry out briefly in between waterings.

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Epilaelia Bussey x Lc. Trick or Treat, floriferous, easy to grow, short plants, blooms 1-2 months

SLC Mine Gold ‘OC’ AM/AOS, blooms 2-3 weeks, floriferous

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In the front of this image is Odontioda George McMahon. In the back on the left is Oda. Golden Rialto. Both beautiful plants to grow.

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The first two of these Masdevallia Orchids below are wild species Orchids and the third is a hybrid. Caring for hybrid and wild Orchids is no different - it always depends on the particular kind of Orchid. Wild Orchids aren’t necessarily any more difficult to care for, especially since they are used to conditions found in nature.

Masdevallia Orchids are part of the Pleurothallidinae tribe, or easier to say, the Pleurothallid Alliance. There are many wonderful Orchids as part of this category. Here are a few below, but just a heads up, we have a ton of favorites we will be posting in coming weeks and months, amongst other kinds of Orchids of course.

Masdevallia princeps ‘Golden Gate’ AM/AOS - great grower, very interesting flower shape

Masdevallia tridens ‘Casa Blanca’ - unique flower shape, floriferous, high shade Orchid

Masdevallia Mary Staal ‘Sun God’ - large, bright flowers, full shape, floriferous

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