Common Name Moth orchid, Phalaenopsis, phals Botanical Name Phalaenopsis Family Orchidaceae Plant Type Herbaceous flowering perennial, orchid group Mature Size 8 to 36 inches tall (depending on species and variety), 12 inches wide Sun Exposure Bright shade Soil Type Moist, bark-like potting media Soil pH Slightly acidic to neutral Bloom Time Spring and summer; indoors, it is a repeat seasonal bloomer Flower Color White, pink, lavender, yellow Hardiness Zones 10 to 12, USDA Native Area Southeast Asia to the Philippines, New Guinea, and northern Australia.Successful growth means finding the right balance between humidity, temperature, light, and airflow.Phalaenopsis orchids are hardy only in Zones 10 to 12, and you rarely see them growing in the continental United States, other than the southern tip of Florida.Ideal outdoor conditions need to be warm, humid year-round, but not damp or soggy, and the growing location needs to be shady, but bright (no direct sun).Good lighting is required to grow Phalaenopsis, but direct sunlight will scorch the leaves.Most bark potting media, complete with perlite, sphagnum moss, charcoal, or coconut husk chips will help the orchid retain water.Phalaenopsis need plenty of air circulation around their root system, as they don't thrive in a suffocating medium.It does not have the large water-storing pseudobulbs found on sympodial (or branching) orchids, hence, this plant has a lower tolerance for drought.To induce a flower spike, the plant needs a few cooler nights, with temperatures around 55 F, in order to bloom.Skip feedings during fall, winter, and spring (flowering season), as too much fertilizer will lead to excessive foliage and no blooms.Some growers like to give the plant a "bloom booster" in September or October to provoke a flower spike.Orchids can be propagated by seed, but the process is time-consuming and requires special laboratory equipment, so it's best to leave this to commercial growers.Wait until the keiki is about a year old, 3 inches long, and has developed two or three leaves of its own and several good roots.Disinfect the blades of the scissors with the alcohol wipes and carefully remove the keiki from the parent plant, keeping the roots intact.Phalaenopsis Liodoro produces wavy, bright green leaves and pink and purple star-like flowers.Phalaenopsis Schiller boasts large 2.5-inch, pink and purple flowers, with dark green variegated leaves.boasts large 2.5-inch, pink and purple flowers, with dark green variegated leaves.Stuart’s variety produces white flowers with yellow and red dots on multiple branches, and can reach up to 30 inches high.produces white flowers with yellow and red dots on multiple branches, and can reach up to 30 inches high.Mini Phalaenopsis require less water due to their smaller stature and come in an assortment of flower colors.Continue caring for your plant as normal and feeding it a diluted liquid fertilizer to promote growth and blooms.Relocate your orchid to a cooler area—one with temperatures of 55 to 65 F and bright indirect sunlight (possibly outdoors).Phalaenopsis orchids can suffer from root or stem rot, which usually occurs because the growing medium has been overwatered and is too soggy.These orchids are often grown as indoor potted plants, where successful growth means finding the right balance between humidity, temperature, light, and airflow.Phalaenopsis orchids have no critical insect or disease problems, but scale, mealy bugs, slugs, and snails are among the pests that occasionally occur