Phalaenopsis Love Day

Description

• Scientific Name: Phalaenopsis ‘Love Day’

• Family: Orchidaceae

• Bloom Time: Mainly late winter through spring, but can rebloom at other times under the right conditions.

• Bloom Duration: Each flower can last 2–3 months.

• Growth Habit: Monopodial (grows upward from a single stem), with broad, flat, leathery leaves at the base.

• Size: Typically 12–24 inches tall, depending on maturity and care.

Care Tips:

🌞 Light

• Bright, indirect light is ideal.

• Avoid direct sun, which can scorch the leaves.

• An east-facing window or filtered south window is usually perfect.

💧 Watering

• Water once a week, allowing the potting medium to dry slightly between waterings.

• Never let the plant sit in water; good drainage is essential.

• Use room-temperature water and avoid wetting the crown (center of the plant).

🌫️ Humidity

• Prefers 50–70% humidity.

• Increase humidity with a humidity tray, room humidifier, or grouping with other plants.

🌡️ Temperature

• Daytime: 70–85°F (21–29°C)

• Nighttime: 60–70°F (15–21°C)

• Avoid cold drafts and temperature swings.

🌱 Potting Medium

• Use a well-draining orchid mix (bark-based, often with perlite or charcoal).

• Repot every 1–2 years or when the medium breaks down.

🌸 Fertilizer

• Feed every 2–4 weeks during active growth with a balanced orchid fertilizer (20-20-20) diluted to half strength.

• Reduce feeding in winter or when not actively growing.

Handling Tips:

• Stake flower spikes to support the weight of blooms.

• Clean leaves gently with a damp cloth to remove dust.

• Trim spent flower spikes just above a node to encourage a possible rebloom from the same stem.

• Be gentle—Phalaenopsis roots and leaves can bruise or snap easily.