New Orchid Questions

[adavenport]

Hello. My name is Alexandria and I live in Okinawa, Japan. I recently purchased a beautiful flowered plant that I was told was an Orchid. I have no idea what kind of orchid it is, so maybe someone can help me (I will include a picture, I just hope it posts okay).

I am keeping it outside of my front door. The porch is covered by a roof, but it doesn't shade the area entirely (meaning it gets some sun, but as the sun rises and sets, it also has plenty of time in the shade as well). I read that I should water it with a bottle, using distilled water (lukewarm). Before I go and wing it and risk killing this breathtaking flower, I'd like to get some advice from someone who can actually look at the picture, know exactly what it is, and what I need to do to keep it alive and well. My husband is deployed right now, and who knows, maybe I've just found myself a new hobby to keep me busy! Besides watering, I would like to know if I need to fertilize it, how often, with what, ect. Also, if I am supposed to water it with a water bottle, how often should I do it? Should I move the plant so I don't risk burning it in the hot sun here? Please excuse my ignorance as I am very, very new to this, and I'd like to come out of this experience with a lot of knowledge. I would greatly appreciate any advice anyone could give me. I'm really excited to find out if I can actually do this! I read a lot of the posts and it sounds like such a science. I'm really enamored by all of you that have so much information and how dedicated you are to your orchids!

Thank you!

Alexandria

[berniep]

G'Day Alexandria

Welcome to the forum, someone will be along shortly I'M sure that grow phals however meantime here is a link to tell you all about it.
AOS | Phalaenopsis

Cheers
Bernie

[Phalcycle]

Originally Posted by adavenport

Hello. My name is Alexandria and I live in Okinawa, Japan. I recently purchased a beautiful flowered plant that I was told was an Orchid. I have no idea what kind of orchid it is, so maybe someone can help me (I will include a picture, I just hope it posts okay).

I am keeping it outside of my front door. The porch is covered by a roof, but it doesn't shade the area entirely (meaning it gets some sun, but as the sun rises and sets, it also has plenty of time in the shade as well). I read that I should water it with a bottle, using distilled water (lukewarm). Before I go and wing it and risk killing this breathtaking flower, I'd like to get some advice from someone who can actually look at the picture, know exactly what it is, and what I need to do to keep it alive and well. My husband is deployed right now, and who knows, maybe I've just found myself a new hobby to keep me busy! Besides watering, I would like to know if I need to fertilize it, how often, with what, ect. Also, if I am supposed to water it with a water bottle, how often should I do it? Should I move the plant so I don't risk burning it in the hot sun here? Please excuse my ignorance as I am very, very new to this, and I'd like to come out of this experience with a lot of knowledge. I would greatly appreciate any advice anyone could give me. I'm really excited to find out if I can actually do this! I read a lot of the posts and it sounds like such a science. I'm really enamored by all of you that have so much information and how dedicated you are to your orchids!

Thank you!

Alexandria

Hello, and welcome to Orchid Geeks!

You have an orchid, and the type is a Phalaenopsis.
its not required to water with distilled water, it depend on your tap water quality.
If there is lots of chlorine and other chemicals then use disilled water.
These guys tolorate low light and medium light.
I keep mine indoors, near windows, but outdoors, will definately do fine where you keep it.
It should be shaded, but not completely. It wants mourning sun, not afternoon sun, so maybe put it in an east facing location. They will get sunburned if in too much sun, and really dark green if not enough light.
I rarely fertilize my orchids, knowing that in nature, they don't get much fertilizers from hanging onto tree trunks. I like to mimic their natural growing conditions.

[adavenport]

Thanks for the helpful information! I'm not sure about the quality of my tap water. I know that it makes my hair feel very heavy. I don't trust it. I'll buy distilled water. Should I squirt it with a water bottle rather than pour water into it with a watering can like any other plant? I read on the link that was posted that I should do this in the morning and make sure it's dry by nighttime. Please let me know!

Thanks!

Alexandria

[-k-]

When watering you want to fill the whole pot up with water and let it drain out completely. If uncertain when to water next you can use the skewer technique, that is by placing a wooden skewer into the potting mix. When you retrieve the skewer if it's still wet or moist no watering is needed, if it's barely moist to dry it's time to water.
Orchids are alot of fun and a great hobby, there are lots of posts on this forum about phals, watering and proper care; just continue to look around the forum, feel free to continue to ask any additional questions.

[Phalcycle]

I would use a watering can and DRENCH the pot with water. It should be dripping through the bottom hole of pot.
Then let is drain for an hour, and then if it had a decorative container outside, put it back in it.
Misting helps with the humidity, if you have low humidity (dry air), try making a humidity tray, by taking a dish, filling with rock and add water. put the plant on top, and make suere the pot doesn't touch the water, (reason for rocks)

[11Orchid126]

It's most important that you don't get any water in the crown of the plant, for if it's left there it will rot in the blink of an eye. If you do get water in the crown sop it up with a paper towel or tissue.

[orchids4me]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
As 11Orchid126 stated try and keep the water out of the crown, if by accident you get some in it you can take a paper towel twist a corner into a point and stick that into the crown and absorb the water out. I do this between the leaves as well because I had rotted some off by not doing it (especially the leaves closest to the potting medium.). Misting is good if you have good air flow around the plant or again can cause rot ( I've lost some this way too) again good air flow is important. And I found misting below the bloom spike is better (I've had blooms dry up like paper and die).
I do fertilize because in the wild up in the trees they get nutrients from bird poop and breaking down of leaves etc that get cought where they are attached. Some people fertilize monthly like me and others fertilize weakly weekly.
East facing window with dappled morning sunlight is best if its indoors if out side the same but not direct full sun it will burn it. If shaded some by a tree or porch over hang will work.

Hope this helps
Emmaye