Question
Received this orchid for Mother's Day.  I'm not sure how to water it plus I live in Northern Nevada (Reno).  So far I've immersed the entire pot in a sink full of lukewarm water for 30-40 min, then it's sits in a dish with small rocks next to a little table top waterfall.  How often do I water it?  Does it need fertilizer?  One bloom already fell off!  It's beautiful-I don't want to kill it!

Answer
Hello Karen,

Your orchid is a hybrid within the phalaenopsis family of orchids and so should require the same basic care.  Bright shade with no direct sunlight in Reno, temperatures between 60F to 85F, humidity above 50% with some light air movement.  Your watering method is very good, just do it when you see that the potting media becomes barely moist.  Orchids are like you and I, we need a little food once in a while.  (grin)  Get a balance type orchid food but only use about a quarter of the amount suggested on the label as phalaenopsis do not require lots of it to grow and bloom.  Phalaenopsis blooms will last upwards of 2 months and longer.  

Tt has been over 15 years since I was last in Reno, used to go there almost monthly until I go married, then it was once a year at most!  (grin)  Maybe one of these years I'll come to Reno to visit all the money I left there!  Hope it has been collecting interest!!  (LOL)  

Hope this helped.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.