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Hi, I'm Judy Mirro, a UVM
Extension Master Gardener,

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coming to you from the office

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of UVM's Master Gardener Helpline.

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And I'm here to help you
become a Houseplant Hero

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by providing some guidance on
caring for your houseplants.

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Today, our focus is on the
Phalaenopsis orchid genus,

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commonly referred to as the moth orchid,

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or just plain old Phal.

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Native only to regions of Asia,

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scientists have found
Phalaenopsis orchid fossils

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that date back 100 million years.

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Now, that's a plant
with some staying power.

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Well, there are nearly 60
true Phalaenopsis species.

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There are now thousands of hybrids.

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Phals are now mass produced because of it.

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The prices are quite reasonable.

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You can buy one of these
beauties just about anywhere

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you go.

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In nature, these orchids grow
on tree trunks and branches.

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They hang or cling on the bark of trees

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and send out the aerial roots.

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You'll notice that a lot
of Phals' aerial roots

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can be growing outside of the container.

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This is perfectly normal,

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and whatever you do, don't
cut the aerial roots off.

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They're just reaching out

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for some extra moisture and nutrients.

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Phals have beautiful thick,
green leaves when healthy,

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and will bloom from spikes

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that grow outta the base of their leaf.

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It's important to look
for these new spikes

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so you can train them to grow upwards

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or into any form you'd like

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while it's still flexible
and when not in flower.

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Place a rigid, thin stake
made of bamboo, wood or metal

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besides the stem that needs the support.

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Secure the stake loosely
with small plastic clips.

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I use plastic hair clips, twist ties,

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and plastic, classic plant ties.

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They all work great.

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The spikes will give way
to softly rounded blooms

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that resemble a moth.

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The blooms can be anywhere
from one to six inches

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in diameter,

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and will vary in color
from white, golden yellows,

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to deep purples,

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and pretty much every
combination you can imagine.

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Once your Phal is in bloom,

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provided you've set it in the right place

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and are providing it with just
the right amount of moisture,

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you should be able to
enjoy gorgeous blooms

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for about six months or longer.

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This orchid will need
lots of really bright,

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filtered sunlight, water, and humidity.

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If the leaves of your Phal
become floppy and shriveled,

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it's time to crank up the
humidity and watering schedule.

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Be sure to water once a week.

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An easy method is to place
your plant in a dish or pan

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that's filled with warm water

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and allow the orchid to soak
it up for five to 10 minutes.

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The aerial roots will
turn from a dull silver

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to a dark green

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when you've applied enough water.

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Allow the excess water to
drain completely out of the pot

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before placing it back on its saucer,

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or else you'll encourage root rot.

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You can even apply orchid
fertilizer in the same manner.

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As a general rule,

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fertilize actively-growing
orchids with an orchid fertilizer

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according to the label directions,

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or use a regular houseplant
fertilizer at half-strength.

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Skip fertilizing your Phals
altogether during bloom time.

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But when they are in recharge mode,

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then it's time to fertilize
every time you water.

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Over-fertilizing your Phal
will bring on beautiful,

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lush green growth,

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but at the expense of blooms.

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Phals do really well under
normal room temperatures

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with bright, filtered
light from a west window,

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but I find they do best in an east window.

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One of my most frequently
asked questions about Phals is,

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"How do I get them to bloom again?"

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Well, here's three tips.

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One, light exposure is
important for re-flowering,

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so find that east or west
exposure to set your plant in.

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Two.

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Since Phals have a tendency
to form new flowering branches

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along their old flower spikes,

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watch the old spike closely
for signs of new buds

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after the flowers have fallen off.

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Don't rush to cut off
that old flower spike.

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It might just sprout a new flower shoot.

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My third and favorite re-blooming hack:

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move your plant outdoors
and into a shady location

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during the summer months.

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Bring it back indoors
when the nighttime temps

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drop into the fifties.

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You'll surely have blooms again.

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Just remember, the orchids
you'll find for sale

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are likely clones,

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super easy to grow and affordable.

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Most Phals you'll find
locally are not very fragrant,

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but they will certainly look spectacular.

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If you get the hang of
growing these Phals,

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you might wanna branch out

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and try a few that are
a tad more expensive,

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but just as easy to grow.

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Talk to your local
greenhouse or garden center

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to see what fragrant varieties they offer.

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The one thing to remember

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is that some grow much
better in greenhouses,

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so be sure to mention
you're a home grower.

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Remember, that by providing
your plants with the conditions

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and care they need, you too
can be a Houseplant Hero.

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For more information on
house plants or home gardens,

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visit the UVM Extension
Master Gardener website,

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and see our Garden Resources page,

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or contact an Extension
Master Gardner Volunteer

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at the helpline.

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The phone number is on the screen.

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This is Extension Master
Gardner, Judy Mirro,

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wishing you happy growing.