Question
QUESTION: Hi,

My husband presented me with a beautiful orchid yesterday. Though the label mentions the name of the orchid (Phal Amabilis), it has no instructions on how to care for the beautiful plant. Can you please help me by telling me
1.  How much water has to be given.
2.  In what frequency is it to be watered..
3.  Lighting conditions of for the orchid?

Thanks in advance
Shalini

ANSWER: Shalini, you are indeed fortunate to receive such a beautiful orchid.  You may water once per week until the plant has finished flowering.  What is uncertain is the condition of the potting mix the plant is in.  Some newly purchased plants are in an unhealthy potting mix that can result in root damage.  Your orchid should be repotted annually in a commercial grade of orchid potting mix following flowering.  This is usually available at places that sell orchids including Lowes and Home Depot.  When you are ready to repot, you need a bag of potting mix and a plastic pot with lots of drainage holes in the bottom.  Soak a portion of the potting mix to be used (keep the rest dry for future pottings) while you unpot your plant.  Toss the old potting mix and rinse off the roots.  Remove any mushy roots as these are dead or dying before repotting.  Phalaenopsis grow best in an east window as they like the morning sun.  Water weekly and feed every other week.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Wayne,

Thank you so much for the reply. And thank you so much for the compliments to the orchid too. It is indeed a beautiful one.

Could you help me with some more clarification..
1.  Is it ok to expose the orchid to direct sunlight? I have placed it in an Eastern window.
2.  Would I be required to keep the window open through the day for fresh air?
3.  How would I know when the flowering stage is over, and what changes would I be required to practice after that?

Thanks,
Shalini

Answer
Morning sunlight is fine which is why most growers recommend an east window.  It is fine to have the window open for fresh air.  Just be careful to not have it open when the outside temperature drops below 50 degrees. Unlike other orchids, phalaenopsis are in continuous growth and don't have a resting stage. Repotting, however, does temporarily disturb root growth, which primarily affects flowers that are open. My preference is to wait until the last open flower has dropped before repotting. Once you have repotted, water once a week and feed it once every other week.  Use 1/4 tsp per gallon of water-- any plant food should be fine.