Su

It likes the same temperatures that you do, so somewhere between 55-60F at
night to 80-85F day. Keep it out of drafts from heaters or airconditioners.

It likes the same humidity as you too. So 40-60% maybe a bit higher, but
not much lower.

It likes indirect light, like for an african violet, or a bit more than a
philodendron, but no light directly on the leaves for more than an hour or
two (preferable none) because they'll burn. If you wonder if your leaves
are going to burn in your chosen window, feel them with your cheek to see if
they are warm to the touch (like over 100 - running a fever).

Water it well once a week, allowing the water to run freely out the bottom
of the pot. Do not water it again until the potting medium is dry 1/2 - 1
inch down into the pot. Depending on your locale/conditions this could be
the next day or 2-3 weeks later, so some monitoring is required until you
learn. Do not allow water to stand in the crown of the plant or the axils
of the leaves because it will rot.

Feed it with any plant food, just make sure its used at 1/2 strength. Roots
will escape from the pot out into the air and are considered beautiful when
they do.

Repot into new medium every 1-2 years, unless you are worried that the
present medium is soft, mushy and smells bad. In which case go ahead and
remove the plant from the pot, cut away any soft black mushy roots, put the
plant back into a pot that will just hold whatever roots remain (they like
to be pot bound) and fill the pot with orchid bark (usually found at
nurseries). Phaleanopsis are epiphytic plants and so their roots are
unlike roots of normal plants, they do not mind if you touch them, indeed
you are supposed to touch them in order to ascertain if they are rotted.

Once the flower stalk has finished blooming cut it back to the base where it
exits the plant. These flower once a year. Sometimes twice, depending on
the parentage of the plant.

The trick really lies in not overwatering. Think of it like a succulent.

K Barrett

"Leonie" wrote in message
m...
Hi

Could anyone give me some basic instructions on how to care for a
Phalaenopsis orchid.

Thanks Leonie