One caveat to what Ray has written. In the tropics where most phals originate, it is also very warm. When we buy a phal it came from a nice warm, bright, humid greenhouse environment. "with lots of air movement", until it got to the big box store or garden shop where it then started to deteriorate. Orchids deteriorate slowly and we don't notice until it is too late. . We take them home into a cool environment and put them in a less well lit place. Even with a coarse media they often stay too wet for then environment in which we put them and it is cool. Cool equals bacteria and fungus. Water them and then let them dry completely unless you can provide warmth and air movement. And good light levels. Give the plant what it needs and it will do fine. Give it less and it will do less.
|