Easy care plant

This morning as I came into the kitchen for breakfast, a bloom on one of our 6 orchids had opened. It is a beautiful white orchid with purple accents.

As newbies to orchid growing, we have only Phalaenopsis to date. This variety is said to be the easiest orchid for the beginner. They thrive in moderate temperatures and low light (can do well under fluorescent lights) and should not be allowed to sit in water as they can be infected by a bacterial rot. The Phalaenopsis has long lasting blooms and if pruned properly can reward you with more blooms on the same flower spike. One source indicated that you could get as many as 30 flowers on a healthy flower spike.

The Phalaenopsis is ideal for us as we have them located in the kitchen in a north facing bay window that seemingly gets the perfect light conditions for our orchids. In the early evening, the window is lit with fluorescent lights. Temperatures are fairly constant around 20 deg C and we water sparingly. We water usually in the morning letting the water run through and drain before putting them back in the window. And our orchids have rewarded us with almost constant blooms. When a spike dies off, after a few weeks a new spike begins to appear and it isn't long before the next spike begins to produce buds. We currently have four orchids in bloom and four of them are shooting out new spikes.

If you have admired orchids ever since your first corsage or the first corsage you bought for your girl, but thought that anything that produces flowers this gorgeous must be difficult to care for, the Phalaenopsis is the orchid to try. We have had great success, particularly as it is my wife that cares for them.