Watering Your New Orchid: The Bottom-Up Method for Phalaenopsis Success

Likely a Phalaenopsis

White with yellow center, two spikes with 8 total buds—classic Phalaenopsis. Since you're unsure of exact type, Phalaenopsis care is the safest starting point.

Watering Frequency Depends on Environment

Weekly watering might be perfect or excessive depending on your temperature, humidity, and air movement. Phalaenopsis prefer the mix to become barely moist between waterings.

Best Technique: Bottom Watering

Stand the pot in lukewarm water rather than pouring over the top. This prevents crown rot from water trapped in leaf bases. Water in morning so any splashes dry by nightfall.

Key Principle

Let the plant tell you when to water—lift the pot. Light = time to water. Heavy = wait. This beats any fixed schedule.