Moth orchid care: watering and light
The moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) is the supermarket orchid, and the easiest to get flowering again. The secret is knowing that, in the wild, it grows clinging to trees, not in soil.
Moth orchid needs water roughly every 6 days in summer and every 8 in winter (east-facing window, in a 16 cm plastic pot with a drainage hole). Before watering, always check with a finger in the soil: if it’s still damp, wait.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Phalaenopsis spp.
- Also known as
- Phalaenopsis, Orchid
- Preferred light
- Bright indirect light
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Tolerates drought
- No
- Tolerates shade
- No
- Where it lives
- Indoors
Where to put it
It wants bright indirect light: an east-facing window is ideal. Strong direct sun burns the leaves. It lives in a clear pot of pine bark, never in soil: the roots need air and light.
How to water
Water when the roots turn silvery and the bark is dry; if they’re green, they still hold water. The simplest way is to soak the pot in water for about ten minutes and let it drain well. Never leave water sitting in the centre of the leaves.
Common mistakes
Brown, mushy roots mean too much water. To flower again, it needs light and slightly cooler nights in autumn. When the flowers drop, cut the stem above the second or third node — sometimes a new flower spike grows from there.
How many days between waterings, spot by spot
| Where it lives | In July | In January |
|---|---|---|
| South- or west-facing window | 5 days | 7 days |
| East-facing window | 6 days | 8 days |
| North-facing window | 9 days | 13 days |
| Hallway or corner with no window | 13 days | 18 days |