How long will my phalaenopsis hybrid orchid last?

With proper care the plant itself should last a good long while, can't really give a figure though.



One of the biggest problems with orchids is loving them to death. Too much/improper watering can mean problems for the orchid.



It works best to soak the roots of the orchid and then let it drain. Don't just get the orchid mix wet, set the whole pot in water for a while: 30 minutes to an hour. Let it get somewhat dry between waterings. Be careful to not get any water down in where the leaves come together. If water stays there the plant can rot. If water does get down in the leaves, carefully tilt the plant while supporting it, until the water drains out. We also have been known to plaque our orchids (even the phals) on cork and hang them so that when they are watered, the water automatically drains out of the leaves.



Ever so often check the condition of the orchid mix. If it has broken down/decayed into smaller and smaller pieces it may be time to use new mix. In nature an orchid's roots are open to the air so they need a potting medium to have plenty of air spaces for the roots. Once the mix begins to break down, the mix becomes more and more compacted until little or no air is able to get to the roots and the mix holds onto to much water. One of the potting mediums my husband and Iike best is lava rock. We use either the small (finer rooted orchids) or slightly larger rock (for all the other orchids).



The advantages of lava rock:

never breaks down

does not hold excess water/drains easily

provides some weight so the pot is less able to tip over



Resist the temptation to over fertilize your orchid(s). They usually need a time of reducuced/no fertilizer in order to rev up for blooming. If you look up care for the phals, you should be able to find out when their rest time is.



If your orchid is inside you might want to check some info on indoor orchid care as there might be some additional steps to caring for indoor orchids.



Hope this helps

How long will my phalaenopsis hybrid orchid last?
I used to be a florist. Your orchid can last a long time if you take good care of it.

If it is potted in a planter, don't fertilize it for at least 3-4 months. They come with fresh nutrition that will last that long.

Keep it moist to the touch, not soggy to the touch. Don't over water it. That and the fertilizer are the two main reasons people can't seem to keep them alive. They like moisture in the air so try to keep it where it will have that atmosphere.



If it is a cut orchid from a florist, keep clean water in the vase and keep it in a cool place.

If it's a cut orchid and you want to keep it for as long as it can last, get one of the little tubes from a florist that they put on the stem. Recut the stem(at an angle) and put it in the tube of water. Then wrap it up loosely with a paper towel and put it in the fridge. Check the water level every day.

Here is something most people don't know:

All fresh flowers will begin to suck up something through their stem as soon as they are cut. If there is no water to suck up they will take in air which forms a bubble inside the stem. This will block it from taking in water when you place it back into water. So anytime you cut flowers, do them one at a time and plunge them into luke warm water within 10 seconds.)

Best of luck with your orchid.

Toothache