New Phalaenopsis Owner: Pots, Mix, Watering, and Spike Pruning

Essential Fixes for Store-Bought Phalaenopsis

Pots: Must have many drainage holes. Clay pots without holes cause root rot.

Mix: Repot in fir-bark orchid mix (sift fines, soak first). Moss compacts and causes moisture issues.

Watering: Reject “ice cube method”—chills roots, uneven wetting. Flush water through mix thoroughly.

Spike Pruning: Cut spent spikes to base—no harm. Some die back naturally.

Feeding: Weekly weak fertilizer is fine; continue after repotting.