Phalaenopsis (abbreviation as Phal.) They are native throughout south-east Asia from the Himalayan mountains to the islands of Philippines and northern Australia. Orchid Island of Taiwan is named after this orchid. Derived from the Ancient Greek word phalaina meaning "a kind of moth" with the suffix -opsis meaning "having the appearance of" or "like".the name given by Carolus Linnaeus to a group of large moths; For this reason, the species are sometimes called Moth orchids.
Phalaenopsis shows a monopodial growth habit. An erect growing rhizome produces from the top one or two alternate, thick and fleshy, elliptical leaves a year. They have no pseudobulbs. They bloom in their full glory for several weeks. If kept in the home, they usually last two to three months, which is considered quite a long time.
They are typically fond of warm temperatures but are adaptable to conditions more comfortable for human habitation in temperate zones. Phalaenopsis requires high humidity and low light. Flowering is triggered by a night-time drop in temperature of around 5 to 6 degrees over 2 to 4 consecutive weeks, usually in the fall.
Phalaenopsis prefer to be potted in sphagnum moss or coco-chips , charcoal and with perlite. Keep them in pots with a lot of drainage. Keep the potting media fairly moist but not wet. Do not let water flow into the center of the plant or it can potentially die from crown rot. Overwatering and poor drainage cause the roots to deteriorate, therefore killing the plant. Be sure the sun does not directly reach the leaves, which will cause burning and brown marks. Phalaenopsis roots are quite thick, and the green point at the ends signifies that the root is actively growing.
