FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anybody could help me with care for my new orchid. I’ve never owned an orchid before, so I’m not too familiar with their care. My plan is to put it over a humidity tray with a small desk lamp and a 5000k led or cfl above it, do you think that would work? If that will work, should I use cfl or led? I’ve read that you need to keep it somewhere where the temp drops 10-15 degrees at night, but I can’t do that so is that fine? I also don’t know if I should repot it or not. Im not sure how to water it too.


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Its a phalaenopsis no need to stress. Keep it in bright indirect light. Don't repot it till all the flowers drop as reporting it might shock it and it will drop them anyway. Let it dry out a bit but not completely . Bring it to the sink and run water through it and put it back. You will know its getting too much/little light by the color of the leaves. Dark leaves not enough. Bright green to much. they should be a nice grass green color

Hungry Plants wrote:Its a phalaenopsis no need to stress. Keep it in bright indirect light. Don't repot it till all the flowers drop as reporting it might shock it and it will drop them anyway. Let it dry out a bit but not completely . Bring it to the sink and run water through it and put it back. You will know its getting too much/little light by the color of the leaves. Dark leaves not enough. Bright green to much. they should be a nice grass green color

thanks! So do you think the 5000k led or the 5000k florescent would work? I have a north window in my room so I can’t put it there.


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It could but I've never used light with any of my orchids. If you have any place to the side of the window that would work great or on the other sid of the room in front of the window.

Hungry Plants wrote:It could but I've never used light with any of my orchids. If you have any place to the side of the window that would work great or on the other sid of the room in front of the window.

I only have one window in my room and it’s north facing. So do you mean I could grow it by the window if I put it right next to it?

Yes just to the left or right of the window so it get plenty of light but not direct light. It will be vary happy there

Yep - phals are full shade plants. They burn very easy. Also make sure that pot drains, and don't overwater. Their roots rot easy. Better too dry than too wet.


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FLTropical wrote:Yep - phals are full shade plants. They burn very easy. Also make sure that pot drains, and don't overwater. Their roots rot easy. Better too dry than too wet.


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Not sure that I can agree with the first statement. Not all phals are full shade. My phal does absolutely great in part shade. There are tons of species of phals, but yes, the most common, Phal. Amabilis and such are full shade.

I'm also not fully agreeing about the second statement but hey, I grow mine on a tree, and I'm pretty sure trees are different than pots. Oh and also, I bet there are phals growing wild in Merapi (A volcano pretty close to me), and we have a big rainy season here, so yeah.

But again, differences

Thanks for the help everyone! I’ll try growing it next to the window and if that doesn’t work I can try putting it under my lamp.


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I know. But it's a hybrid from a florist, grocery, or hardware store. And being grown indoors. In a pot. And it's the OP's first. I grow them on trees too, but not everyone lives in the tropics, and everyone starts somewhere.


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JJ_cp04 wrote:Thanks for the help everyone! I’ll try growing it next to the window and if that doesn’t work I can try putting it under my lamp.


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Glad we could help!


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JJ_cp04 wrote:So do you think the 5000k led or the 5000k florescent would work? I have a north window in my room so I can’t put it there.

Yes, I use a 5000k HO t5 over mine. It's not required but helps them grow faster.