BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Orchids New Phal owner - Now What?

Received a new Phal about 2 months ago and is still in bloom. It seems to be thriving well. I noticed when I watered it the other day that a new leaf is popping up. Now, is there anything I need to do in particular during this growing cycle? Should I just continue to water as I have in the past? Also, once the blooms leave, should I crop the stem to the first node by the last bloom? I have read that some folks crop it all the way down? Right? Wrong? Also, as for fertilizer, I have the time release pellets for african violets, would this be ok for the orchids?

Sounds like you're doing just fine with your current regimen. I have found that generally four months is about the most that Phals will continue to bloom. Yes, cut the inflorescence back to see if you can encourage it to form a side shoot. It will depend upon the parentage of the plant as to whether or not this will work. If the inflorescence turns brown, then cut it back as far as you can to the bottom. Your time release pellets will work just fine. Just don't put in as many as suggested for a pot the size you have your orchid in.

I am so excited! There were these pots of orchids in a shopping cart marked $5. I bought two. Did not know a thing about them, but had always thought they were hard to grow and maintain, so never tried. Now, after a diligent session of "surfing" I am not scared at all. The tag said Phalaenopsis...so I call them 'sis'ters, and hope they are different from each other,(they have no blooms, but the leaves are not structured identically) and very excited with this site, as the best of many so far this past 2 1/2 hours on learning all about them. Thank You Very much.

Thank you so much for the nice note. Glad the site is helpful. I'd suggest looking at "Cultural Information" and there is a whole section under "Phalaenopsis" there. Good luck growing!! I wouldn't expect your plants to bloom until next spring.