Growing Phalaenopsis Brother Sara Gold Orchids

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Blooming, Care and Culture

The Phalaenopsis Brother Sara Gold orchid can bloom year round, but most commonly during the autumn and spring season. Each individual bloom lasts 80 to 120 days. However, exposure to the fumes and gases from gas stoves, automobiles, and cigarettes can cause all of the flowers and buds to drop prematurely in a few days. Remember to leave the orchid plant in one area (don’t move it around).

Every time you move a plant, it needs a little time to re-adjust to its environmental surroundings (moving your orchid to new locations; changing its growing environment, usually results in leaf or bud drop off).

Make sure that the temperature is below 78 °F for three to five weeks with good light (needed for initiating flower spikes). Wide fluctuating temperatures and low humidity can cause bud drop on plants with flower buds ready to open. The humidity should be around 50-80%. If you feel the humidity needs to be slightly raised, this can easily be done by moving some of your other houseplants closer to your orchid. Chilly temperatures may cause the plant to stop budding.

Avoid direct contact with the sun, the leaves of this orchid burn easily from too much exposure.

Water is especially critical for this orchid. The medium should never be allowed to dry out completely. Plants should be thoroughly watered and not watered again until nearly dry, but not until bone dry. In the heat of the summer in a dry climate, this may be every two to three days, whereas during the winter of a northern climate, it may be every ten or more days. Do not allow water to accumulate in the crown for long to avoid contract decaying diseases. Do not sit pots in standing water for long.

Plants should be re-potted every other year and, because they grow upwards without spreading, can go back into the same sized pot. The best time to re-pot your orchid is after your blooming has completed (early summer or late spring). A medium-grade wood bark works well (it prefers a medium that drains quickly) with the base of the bottom leaf at the surface of the medium. Water sparingly until new roots are well established (this is very important; if you over-water you’ll end up with root rot or a dead plant). As your orchid ages you’ll want to use a coarser medium. Be sure to remove any medium that may be stuck to the roots (the best you can).

When the last flower drops, cut your flower spike halfway down the stem. After cutting the stem with a clean, sharp blade, seal the cut with melted candle wax or cinnamon powder to prevent bacterial infection. A re-bloom will probably occur if you continue to care properly for your orchid.