Flowering And Potting Moth Orchids Orchids can grow about anywhere. In fact, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants. In addition, they have more than twenty thousand species and eight hundred genera. One of the longest blooming genera of orchid is the phalaenopsis or more commonly known as moth orchid. They can last two to six months before dying and they can bloom two to three times per year when they mature. When the moth orchid flowers for the first time, cut the stem above the node where the flower bloomed so that a new flower stem will emerge. It will take two months before a new flower will show up from the top node. If in two months there’s no new flower or the flower spike turned brown, cut it off near the base of the plant where it grew. Usually, healthy moth orchids flower more often. About once a year, the potting breaks down because moth orchids require frequent watering. They say it is best to re-pot these flowers during spring or fall because of the temperature. Also, it is recommended that you do re-potting at least once a year. If in any case, the medium breaks down and starts holding too much water, you should re-pot it immediately. When re-potting the moth orchid, after you have removed the plant, shake off the entire old potting medium and then remove the dead roots. White and firm roots indicate that the moth orchid is healthy. There are instances that buds dry and drop off the plant even if they did not open. This happens for many reasons and you should find out what causes this. Check the room temperature, it’s best that you put it in a fairly warm room. Next, see if the plant receives too little or too much light. The Moth orchid is usually placed in a windowsill because the light there is just enough. Furthermore, make sure that the water you give them is right. If you water them daily, they can rot. But if you don’t water them at all, they’ll dry up. Also, use water that is applicable to them like clear water. Softened water should not be used in watering moth orchids. Moreover, there should not be abundant amount of fertilizer and they should never be exposed to strong fumes. Research and read about how to take good care of your moth orchid so that you can have a beautiful plant at home.