Let's give the Phalaenopsis orchid a second life - details on how to rejuvenate the plant

The most common indoor plant is the Phalaenopsis orchid. Due to its resemblance to a butterfly, some gardeners call it a butterfly orchid (the word Phalaenopsis comes from the Greek phalania and opsis - a flower that looks like a nocturnal butterfly).

For the first time K. Blumet stumbled upon a plant. At first, he did not even understand that there was a flower in front of him, confusing it with an insect with two pairs of wings of different colors. Breeders have ensured that not only travelers in the jungle, but also lovers of indoor plants can enjoy the view of its flowering. Did they manage to achieve the same lifespan for hybrids?

How much is measured to the plant by nature?

The life expectancy of orchids growing in tropical latitudes is several tens or hundreds of years. They die if there was a sharp change in climate, the tree to which they attached was lost. Sometimes their premature death is due to a defeat by viral or fungal diseases (about diseases and pests of phalaenopsis, as well as about ways to get rid of them, read here).

Breeders bred hybrid varieties a century ago. How many Phalaenopsis live at home? If the care is perfect, then 7-8 years. Dendrobium lives less - 5-6 years. The numbers voiced above are relative rather than true.

About where and how phalaenopsis grows in nature, what are the differences between wild varieties and domestic varieties, is said in our article.

Flowering time

Phalaenopsis buy, marveling at the beauty of marvelous buds on peduncles. Will they be so beautiful forever? No, for beginners they bloom 2-3 times a year for 3-4 months, and for experienced gardeners - nine months a year (the dormant period lasts 2-3 months). The duration of flowering depends on the conditions created by the florist, on the type and variety of the homemade orchid beauty.

A young orchid blooms in just one month.

Flowering time depends on genetic data., and the life time depends on how the grower cares for the plant, whether pests will be noticed on time or not. This is the enormous difference between life time and flowering time.

Here we talked about how to care for phalaenopsis at home, so that the buds open up, as well as during and after flowering.

What factors affect lifespan?

There are factors that affect the life of an orchid. Knowing them, it is easy to achieve that she will decorate the windowsill for 10-20 years.

Variety and type

Breeders bred hybrids by crossing different varieties. Each of these varieties can have 20-40 grandparents. By doing so, they themselves can not answer the question: how long the orchid will live. More often than not, the whole time of her life depends on how the hostess will look after her. One hybrid Phalaenopsis will die 3 years after purchase, while the other will live five times longer.

You can learn about popular types and varieties of phalaenopsis from our material.

Transfer

An exotic plant is afraid of transplants. Any transplant is stressful for him. In addition, one improper action during this procedure can lead to damage to the leaves or roots.

No matter how bad it is after it, it is necessary to transplant it two to three times a year. Transplantation allows you to update the soil and contribute to the receipt of the roots of a new portion of nutrients. The substrate is rich in these substances, but over time it becomes thinner and ceases to give phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen to the plant.

Fertilizers

If you do not use special fertilizers for feeding, large and bright inflorescences will not form on it. If you go too far with its introduction, you get a mutant orchid. A flower overfed with phosphorus is decorated with 3-4 peduncles. If there are many leaves on it, he is a victim of nitrogen fertilizers. Feeding is done, but in moderation.

How to find out the age?

Do not determine the true age of Phalaenopsis. You can not recognize him by counting the leaves. This plant is perennial. The average life expectancy in indoor conditions is 7-10 years. Orchid over 5 years old gives children. The first buds appear on it only after 5 years.

Sometimes age is determined by counting leaves and bulbs. This method is inaccurate. You can use it if the grower is sure that Phalaenopsis is healthy and have not reanimated it even once.

To extend the life of Phalaenopsis, care for him correctly. It is watered on time, fertilized in moderation. Once every two to three years, it is transplanted in order to renew the substrate. It is also important to provide him with sufficient daylight hours.

Step-by-step instructions on how to rejuvenate an old plant

The way to rejuvenate the Phalaenopsis orchid is simple. To do this, you do not have to remove it from the pot. We will tell you how to update an old orchid.

1. Preparing a tool for trimming. It is better to take a garden pruner rather than sharp-edged scissors. Before the procedure, the tool is treated using an alcohol solution.

2. Pruning. Picking up a pruning shears, cut off the top with aerial roots, moving from the bottom of the stem. The lower part and part of the stem are left in the old pot. Over time, children will leave the hemp at the roots.

   Note! By trimming the top, they try to separate the largest number of roots from it. Orchid tolerates the procedure easier if you cut the top with 6-10 roots, and not with 3-5.

3. Processing cut points. When processing places of cuts on top or hemp, use wax, garden var or paraffin. Before returning the flower pot to its place, wait until they dry.

If the roots stick up and do not fit in the pot, soak them in water. After this procedure, they will become more elastic and put them in the pot as they should. If the leaves interfere with this, cut them off, exposing the neck.

Watch the video on how to rejuvenate the Phalaenopsis orchid:

Care Features

If a young orchid needs frequent watering, then an adult orchid does not. This is the only difference that is remembered when organizing care for her.

• The location of the pot. It is placed on a western or eastern window. If there is no way to do so, put it on any windowsill or just on the table, but in this case they take care of the backlight (phytolamp, fluorescent lamp). The optimal duration of daylight hours is 14 hours.
• Temperature. In the summer months, the thermometer should not rise above +25, and in winter - +18 degrees Celsius. For the orchid to bloom, provide a temperature difference between night and day.
• Spraying. They should be regular - 3-5 times a day, when the humidity is low. The flower is sprayed gently, noticing the inflorescences. If even a drop of water gets on them, the buds will fall off.
• Watering as the substrate dries.

Conclusion

Phalaenopsis adapts to any conditions of detention. If the duration of flowering depends on genetic factors, then life expectancy depends on the care organized for it. If you manage to create as much as possible coinciding with natural conditions, he will live long.