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Best Phalaenopsis Orchid Tools (Orchid Supplies)
Table of contents:
Don’t have an orchid yet?
Beginner’s Phalaenopsis orchids plant care guide
Orchid accessories for the best placement
Best orchid supplies for proper watering
Best orchid tools for fertilizing
Best orchid supplies for large and long-lasting blooms
Orchid must haves for successful re-potting
This useful orchid shopping list can be a wonderful starting point for any orchid lovers gift guide. If you know any avid Phalaenopsis fans around you, these orchid best purchases will help you figure out what to give them for any occasion – a birthday celebration, Mother’s day, Name day, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, etc.
Affiliate disclosure: the following links to the Amazon store are affiliate links and commissions are earned.
Don’t have an orchid yet?
Grab your first live Phalaenopsis plant!
Phalaenopsis amabilis is probably one of the most popular and preferred types of orchid plants for growing indoors (and outdoors in some cases). It is often called “moth orchid” (mostly in India) or “moon orchid” or the much more exotic name “anggrek bulan” in Indonesian.
And by looking at their beautiful blooms, you can definitely guess why they are so popular around the world – they are absolutely stunningly elegant! I guess that is the main reason why you can see Phalaenopsis flowers in most SPAs and luxurious high-class hotels, for example – they truly give the environment a special royal-like ambiance! So, if you still haven’t gotten your very first moth orchid plant, do not hesitate to do so! Or if you already have one, you can pick another one with a different blossom color or size – I have seen mainly 3 types of Phalaenopsis plants – tiny, medium-sized and large magnificent Phal giants (I have one of those at home and I absolutely adore it!). Having a moon orchid growing hobby can be truly addictive! 😀
Beginner’s Phalaenopsis orchids plant care guide
My simple manual for growing Phalaenopsis (suitable for most orchid types as well) and how to make it bloom time and time again is already available on Amazon!
Here’s the thing about orchids – their native habitat is usually the Asian rainforests in China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, etc. What this means is that when transferring to a different area with a different kind of climate, these precious and delicate flowers may not survive or thrive.
That is why they do need some special tender love and care as opposed to other more typical house plants we have had for centuries. And that’s the main reason why most orchid gardeners fail at maintaining their exotic plants alive or giving them the necessary requirements for them to produce blooms over and over again. Hence, one of my very first suggestions, especially if you are an unexperienced moth orchid grower, is to get educated and start applying some necessary routines for your Phalaenopsis to feel good and to thrive! I personally like this book right here for it contains simple step-by-step guidance into the world of moon orchids and you can put it into use right away! You will learn everything you need to know about moth orchid care from getting it from the store to maintaining its beautiful blooms – re-potting, watering, fertilizing, boosting the process of flowering, winter and summer care tips, the simplest propagating process, and more!
Orchid accessories for the best placement
The placement of your orchid is extremely important and it is definitely something which is often overlooked. Because at the core of the process of growing plants lies the effort to re-create their natural habitat as much as possible. And thus, the position of the flower will determine how much light it receives. Is there any wind current? Is it an air conditioned room not? You get the point. So, as far as lighting goes, here are a few options:
Flower lighting – in case the environment is too dark.
Usually, most orchid gardeners place their plant on the window sill for them to soak some light coming from outside. But in some cases this may not be enough or there might be too many plants and some of them have to be put in another location which is not very lit.
That is why getting such artificial source of light is a good idea for these scenarios. Maybe your home is facing North and there are high-rise buildings nearby and your place is not getting enough light. Or maybe the cold winter months are too dark and foggy and your plants are struggling with growth and blooming. Either way, these flower lamps might be a great choice to improve the environment for your precious Phalaenopsis orchids! Many avid orchid lovers prefer a more professional lighting for their special plant stands by using the famous Barrinas!
Textile blinds – in case there is too much direct light on the flower.
The opposite scenario is having too much direct light coming onto your beautiful moth orchids. This is not so good either. The natural habitats of the moon orchid are the Asian rainforests and most Phals grow under the partially sunny and partially shady spots under the trees.
So, if your home is too bright and too hot, your beautiful plants might burn, get dehydrated, and perish. In this case, having textile blinds could be a wonderful solution! And I really like these ones (and I have them, too, because my home is entirely South-facing) since we can pretty much create a similar mixed shade environment. These can be used whenever there is too much light coming straight to the orchids or only during the hot summer days, depending on the climate where you live in.
Room thermometer – to check if the room temperature is appropriate for your orchid
Best orchid supplies for proper watering
Watering orchids is probably one of the most controversial topics when it comes to growing these amazing exotic plants. Everyone has their own method and technique, but here you will find some of the most essential products you would definitely need in this process. As far as my exact watering schedule goes, I do not think there is a one size fits all piece of advice in this area. That’s simply because everyone lives in a different location with a different type of climate, and the conditions of the living space may vary greatly. For example, is the space air conditioned, how much light comes into the room, what is the average temperature, etc. Nevertheless, there are some ground rules I try to follow to determine whether it is time to water the moth orchids or if I should wait a little more. And if you are not exactly sure about your watering schedule, feel free to grab the Phalaenopsis growing guide I mentioned earlier. I use the recommendations there and my plants are doing great!
A bucket or wash basin (preferably made of eco-friendly material) – choose a size according to the dimensions of the flower pot.
I know people have their own preferred ways of watering their moon orchids – some place them directly under the faucet and let the water run through the flower pot. Other folks pour some liquid underneath the orchid planter at all times and spray the airy roots from time to time.
And these tactics are fine as long as they work for you. Nevertheless, my personal preferred way of hydrating my own Phalaenopsis plants is by dipping them in a wash basin full of clean water for about 15 minutes. I also use this technique for fertilizing the plants with dissolved liquid nutrients. That is how all the orchid medium can be fully soaked and retain most of the moisture for a longer period of time and revitalize the roots. By using this watering method it is of upmost importance to let all the excess liquid get out of the container so that the root system does not rot.
Spray bottles (preferably made of eco-friendly material) – it is best to get two bottles – one for watering the airy roots with clean water, and one for disinfecting the roots and the leaves. Remember to label them correctly and to store them away from children and pets!
The second important part of the watering process for Phalaenopsis orchids is hydrating the airy roots. They are as important as the “hidden” ones inside the pot. This is what’s special about moth orchids – their ability to photosynthesize light using their root system.
This gives them the ultimate back-up survival plan in case the leaves get damaged, rotten, or sick. That is why giving proper hydration to all the roots of the plant, including the ones which are sticking out of the planter, is extremely important. And also, let’s not forget that the natural habitat of the moon orchid is the rainforests of Asia, so re-creating this environment as much as possible is crucial for their proper growth and blooming process! In other words, use the spray bottle filled with clean water to spray onto the leaves and clean off any gathered dust or contaminations.
Labels – label your spray bottles and your plants. Another option is to buy self-adhesive label paper and print your own labels.
Labeling may seem like a really insignificant task, but it is an absolute must, especially if you have a bottle or a container with a disinfecting liquid in it (such as hydrogen peroxide). You need to know which bottle is which and what it contains, so you or your family members won’t make any bad mistakes.
But labels also work great for the plants themselves. This is how you can keep track of your orchids and write down some important information – the date they were purchased, when they were last re-potted with brand new potting medium, what color are the blooms, etc. This is how you will know when it is time to re-pot your plant or inspect the root system (preferably every 2 years).
Water – it is best to use clean distilled water free from any impurities. Another great option I personally use is clean water purified with a charcoal pitcher.
Yes, Phalaenopsis orchids can be quite picky and demanding when it comes to their environment and all the nutrients we feed them with. And the first most vital part is watering. I know lots of people use simple tap water, and this could be perfectly fine in most cases.
Unfortunately, sometimes this may not be enough or it could even be detrimental to the plant, especially if the water is extremely hard with lots of lime scale. This could build up on the root system and the leaves, impair the photosynthesis process, and block the absorption of nutrients from the medium. That is why I recommend you get the above-mentioned charcoal filter pitcher which would remove the lime scale as well as any excess Chloride and other impurities.
Paper tissues – it is always a good idea to remove any excess water from the base of the flower to avoid rotting.
Let’s not forget that the Phalaenopsis orchid comes from the rainforests in Asia and the plants are usually located on trees with their leaves tilted a little bit to one side. This is not a coincidence! The natural evolution process forced orchids to grow this way so that excess rain water would slide away from the base of the plant.
This is how the flowers are being watered without any liquid remaining which could cause any bacteria growth and rotting. Unfortunately, store-bought Phalaenopsis plants are usually facing straight up and the base of the flower may become the perfect hub for water, bacteria, and fungi, especially in the cold months when it is more difficult for the liquid to evaporate quickly. So, it is best to have some paper tissues at hand to gently remove any remaining water at the base of the orchid.
Best orchid tools for fertilizing
This is probably the next big topic right after the watering process and for a reason – this is basically the food that the plants need to grow properly and to produce their magnificent blooms year after year! There are many options to pick from and everyone has their preferred way of nurturing their Phalaenopsis plants, but here’s what I would suggest based on how I grow my own moon orchids and how I get the desired results. I know there seem to be universal fertilizers (usually with a 20-20-20 ratio which is 20% nitrogen, 20% phosphorus, 20% potassium) out there which can be used all year round but I think that having two separate products is the best way to go about it. Because there are two distinct growth periods each year which any Phalaenopsis goes through and this means that there have to be specific nutrients to assist the plant in each one of them.
Fertilizer for growth – liquid growth fertilizer for the main root system and spray one for the airy roots during the growth period. This is usually a high-nitrogen type of plant food with the 30-10-10 ratio which consists of 30% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus, and 10% potassium.
The Phalaenopsis orchids have one long period of growth which usually happens between March and September (when the temperatures are high). This is their time of growing new leaves and roots (both inside the pot and airy roots as well).
So, the proper nutrients have to accommodate the plant’s need for better and faster growth in order for it to gather strength for the blooming season (which definitely requires lots of energy which the orchid has to muster beforehand). I believe that if the Phalaenopsis flower hasn’t been treated well with suitable fertilizing and watering during its growth season, the blooming process would be almost impossible.
Fertilizer for blooming – liquid blooming fertilizer for the main root system and spray one for the airy roots during the blooming period. This is usually a high-phosphorus type of plant food with the 10-30-20 ratio which consists of 10% nitrogen, 30% phosphorus, and 20% potassium.
The blooming season (usually happens when there is a significant difference between daily and nighttime temperatures) is very important for the orchid plants in securing their pollination process and the continuation of their species.
And this process requires lots of energy and nutrients to achieve this aim. Let’s not forget that the Phalaenopsis orchid has some of the most long-lasting blossoms and this takes effort on the plant’s end. So, there are special fertilizing products which are specifically designed to help the moon orchids produce more flowers which would last longer providing the best compounds and substances the plant needs in this endeavor. So, I highly recommend you grab some orchid food for blooming and commence using it when the nighttime temperatures start to drop and the first flower stalks would start to appear!
Best orchid supplies for large and long-lasting blooms
Apart from the bloom-boosting fertilizer I mentioned previously, you will also need a few more things to make your beautiful Phalaenopsis orchid plant happy!
Support stakes – you can use simple eco-friendly bamboo stakes and clips or metal ones with cage rings (can be used without clips).
The flower stalks of the moth orchid are quite strong and durable on their own, but we still need to secure them in some way or another. This will significantly improve their appearance (well, we get them mainly for their elegant aesthetic qualities, right?), and prevent the blossoms from bending forward.
This could even change the plant’s gravity point and make it topple. Moreover, by keeping our Phal’s flower stalk facing straight up, we would also avoid any potential accidents. Once I accidentally toppled my orchid by pulling the window curtain which clashed with the orchid’s flower stem. Funny, right? Well, I wasn’t so amused at that time! 😀 So, definitely grab some cool stakes and secure your beautiful Phalaenopsis blossoms with some fixtures of your choice! There are a couple of options, like clips, rings or plant wire.
Plant wire is also acceptable instead of the fixating clips.
Artificial Phalaenopsis flowers
The main reason why we are so obsessed with the Phalaenopsis orchids is their magnificently elegant aesthetics. Well, their blooms may be relatively long-lasting, but what do we do for the rest of the year during their growth season?
One option is to leave the plants be as they are and enjoying their beautiful green foliage. But I would make another suggestion – you can definitely buy a couple of artificial moon orchid blooms and attach them to the plant as you would do with the real ones. This would still create a true royal-like or a SPA-like ambience to your home all-year long! And the artificial flowers are amazingly realistic and very difficult to distinguish the difference between them and the real thing! So, if you are very impatient for your magnificent Phals to start blooming, do not hesitate to upgrade your living space with these deco pieces!
Orchid must haves for successful re-potting
Gloves – always protect your skin against contamination, fungi, bacteria, and pests.
As you may probably know, it is always a good choice to protect yourself while gardening, especially when it comes to caring for outdoor flowers. But even house plants can become contaminated in one way or another.
So it is best to keep your precious skin protected against any bacteria and fungi which are not native to our human microbiome. This is especially important when doing your regular re-potting process, and fertilizing. These procedures also involve using powerful chemicals which may damage the derma, such as hydrogen peroxide or a strong undiluted liquid orchid fertilizer. So, always keep your hands safe with a fresh pair of gloves (consider getting a batch of eco-friendly compostable ones)! Oh, and of course – we should mention the aesthetic part of this situation – using such protection tools will keep your beautiful manicure intact and also you would avoid extreme skin chapping! Psst! If you are already in dire need of some moisturizing, definitely consider getting some sort of strong hand lotion with natural ingredients!
Hydrogen peroxide 3% – for disinfecting the roots and the leaves. Hydrogen peroxide 6% is also an excellent option, if you dilute it in the same amount of water.
Disinfecting is an extremely important part of the whole orchid care process. The Phalaenopsis plants may be quite sturdy and durable flowers, but they are certainly not immune to contaminations and infestations by malevolent bacteria, fungi, and bugs.
So, it is best to protect the orchid right from the start by cleaning the whole root system and the leaves. I personally use a 3% hydrogen peroxide since I believe that it is one of the safest and most effective options which do the job perfectly, but I know other gardeners who use the stronger 6% solution or a completely different kind of disinfecting product. No matter what you choose, make sure you perform this procedure right after you bring your Phalaenopsis plant from the store; after it has been outside for a while; whenever you make a thorough inspection of your flower if there seems to be an issue with the roots or the leaves; or every two years for prevention purposes. Also, make sure you wear your gloves, mentioned in the previous orchid tool suggestion!
Soil – you can use every type of regular orchid soil or potting mix.
The so called orchid medium is probably one of the most important compounds you need for proper care of your plant! This is their main source of nutrients and it has to be top notch! So, there are lots of options and different variations, but the most commonly used universal potting mix contains bark chips, coconut husk, sphagnum moss, cinder, etc.
Keep in mind that some medium types have fertilizer added to the mix so that you can tweak your regular feeding schedule to be more sparse than usual. Also, it is important for the potting soil to be easily drained so that the root system of the orchid can “breathe” and to avoid root rotting. However, some types of media contain more sphagnum moss than usual which retains more water inside the pot. Keep this in mind when you create your watering schedule (that is why in the book “Phalaenopsis Care for Beginners” there are certain signs and guidelines you can use to determine whether your orchid needs more or less hydration and how often, rather than having an universal timetable).
Orchid pots – you can use regular plain orchid pots with plenty of holes, or more beautiful ceramic ones but with less visibility to the root system and less light photosynthesized.
When it comes to choosing suitable pots for your orchid plant, there is a wide variety of options. But here I will mention two of them which I think are appropriate for the proper growth and comfort of your flower.
The first type is the regular and the simplest plastic ones – these are usually the kinds of containers which are transparent and flexible. These are excellent for complete Phalaenopsis gardening beginners since they provide the necessary light to the root system and can easily be accommodated with extra holes for even better aeration (if needed).
The second interesting type is the ceramic one. It is extremely beautiful and it is much more desirable for its elegant aesthetics. Unfortunately, there are a couple of downsides you need to take into account. The ceramic pots conceal most of the roots inside the container and do not allow extra light to be photosynthesized by the plant. And as we know, the moth orchid is among the plants known as epiphytes which use their powerful root system to additionally convert light into nutrients. Also, the ceramic pots make it a bit more difficult to determine whether your flower needs watering, and this is crucial when it comes to avoiding rotting of the radicals. So, this makes this type of containers a bit more suitable for experienced and advanced orchid gardeners.
Utility knife – for adding extra ventilation to the plastic pots, if needed.
Let’s say that you already have a couple of Phalaenopsis orchids planted in some basic plastic pots, like these ones for instance. The store-bought plants usually come in such simple plastic planters without any additional holes (well, at least here where I live orchids are potted in such containers).
If that’s the case with your moth orchids, you certainly don’t need to buy different kinds of planters, if you wish to keep these. But I highly recommend you use such utility knife to make some extra openings to increase the aeration of the root system. If during the cold months of the year the moisture inside the container lingers for too long and the risk of mold formation is high, you definitely would need to make this procedure or get some different kinds of pots.
Gardening scissors – for cutting off flower spikes and dried/rotting roots and leaves.
This piece of orchid care equipment is extremely important for the proper gardening process of these magnificent flowers! The gardening scissors allow us to make necessary cuts with extreme precision which is very important to the proper growth of the plant and avoiding any damages.
These essential orchid tools are extremely practical when you need to remove any dried leaves, rotten roots, or an old flower spike. Well, as far as cutting off the flower stem goes, I know there are different viewpoints of this – some people leave their old spikes intact after the blooming season is over, while others prefer to remove them to boost the growth process of the plant by directing more nutrients and energy into the foliage and root development. Either way, you would still need to have a pair of these nifty cutting tools to use whenever needed. And besides, very often store-bought orchids are not able to produce flowers from the same stem, and they dry out quickly after the blooming season is over. And so, you will have to cut it off eventually.
T-shaped flower tags – you can use these to write down all the necessary details of your plant – for example- the next re-potting date.
EASY STEP BY STEP GUIDE FOR GROWING PHALAENOPSIS ORCHIDS!
“Phalaenopsis Care for Beginners” is your simple hassle-free guide for growing, blooming, and propagating your magnificent Phalaenopsis orchids!
Are you constantly struggling to make your orchid grow and bloom properly? Or maybe you have a brand new Phalaenopsis plant and you have no clue what to do with it?
Worry not! This is exactly what you need!
No more confusion! Everything you need to know to grow your orchids in one place!
THIS BOOK WILL TEACH YOU HOW AND ANSWER ALL YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS:
- Where to place your orchid in order to supply it with the best conditions?
- How and when to water your orchid? One of the most controversial topics!
- How and when to fertilize your orchid to ensure its proper growth and long-lasting blooming?
- How and when to re-pot your orchid?
- How to help your orchid bloom continuously year after year?
- How and when to propagate your orchid? It’s not that scary as you think!
- How to properly treat and prevent the most common issues?
- and so much more!
GRAB YOUR COPY AND START YOUR ORCHID GROWING JOURNEY THE RIGHT WAY!
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