Phal – short for Phalainopsis Orchid, also called moth orchid – is a rather popular orchid for beginning growers. The reason is twofold: phal orchids are easier to grow than most other types and they can be readily obtains from your local flower shops. Phal orchids have the added advantage that they are relatively small and if they are cared for in the right way, they will bloom throughout the year.

Phale orchids may be compared to African violets, partly because they require similar growing mediums. Both like to avoid the sun during the day, both favor the morning or the evening light. Phal orchids are also best in the temperatures that most people keep their houses in, the range from 70 to about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Orchids like it when the temperature drops during the night up to 10 degrees or so. And they should only be watered once in a week, but you should make an adjustment in this time frame when the weather is hot (more water) and then it’s cold (less water).

There is just one thing that phal orchids thrive on that we don’t usually have in our homes, and that is a level of humidity around 50 to 70%. If you want to make sure that there is enough humidity for your orchid, place the pot on a tray full of pebbles and water. This can create a micro-climate with higher humidity right around the orchid than in the rest of the house.

Phalaenopsis orchids are epiphytic. This means that they can attach themselves to trees or walls and grow above the ground. These types of orchids are also called aerial at times. If you want to grow this type of orchid, do your best to stimulate its natural environment. You can do this by placing the orchid in a bark-based medium. If you choose sphagnum moss, be careful because this medium is more likely to decay fast, so you will need to keep an eye on it.

Phal orchids have flowers that tend to be of similar shape, but they vary in size according to their species. Some orchid flowers are just about an inch, while some others may be as big as 5 inches in size. Phal orchids also come in a wide variety of colors, but they don’t ever come blue. Their scent can be almost none to very noticeable. One other attractive feature of a phal orchid is its ability to bloom more than once. This makes it a very popular flower to keep in people’s homes. When one stem finished blooming, it can send out a new shoot which can then bloom again. If you do proper pruning, you can have your orchid bloom over and over again.

Phalaenopsis orchids originate in the southeast areas of Asia. Of the 60 basic types recognized most can by hybridized using other plants so that other types of orchids can be generated to increase their variety. Since the new varieties can have different needs than the original Phal orchid, vigilance is required to make sure that you let your orchid tell you, in a sense, what it requires to flourish.