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Follow a few basic hints to care for your phalaenopsis orchids

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Phalaenopsis or commonly known as Moth Orchid is one of the easiest orchids to grow indoors.

They may look delicate, but they are surprisingly hardy and can bloom for up to six months. 

Native to Papua New Guinea, India and southern Nepal, they like a warm tropical climate and, with care, you can grow them inside.

Caring for phalaenopsis orchids in your home isn’t difficult, especially if you follow a few basic hints.

Choose a room that gets light for most of the day, particularly facing a north-east window. Note, west facing windows can be too hot.

The tall delicate flower stalks need support to avoid breaking – secure the stems to slender bamboo stakes with a small clip or wire.

Keep plants moist as they don’t have storage organs – don’t let potting mix dry out, but don’t overwater either. 

Liquid fertiliser can be applied every 7-to-14 days – try Searles Flourish for Orchids.

Re-potting in a new media each year or two is recommended.

Remove the plant from the pot, trim dead roots and re-pot in a container big enough to hold two years’ growth.

After re-potting, sit the pot on a saucer of pebbles and spray each morning with an atomiser.

Often aerial roots are removed thinking they are a problem – they help the plant breath, don’t cut them off and consider using sphagnum moss, particularly on the surface when re-potting.

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