I have my Phals under the Northern eaves of our house.They get no direct sunlight during the day and when the sun sets the sunlight is filtered by a queen palm...I think I have found the perfect spot..I found the hard way they do not like direct sun hitting their leaves nor do they like being moved much...I have also learned to water by the weight of the plant and their baskets...When in doubt wait a day is my philosophy..I do not mist the Phals and I only water and fertilize from the top...Its working well that way so far...fingers crossed...

So far, I've had good plants and other orchid products from Gublers.

Jeff, to water by the weight of the plant and their baskets, that is called " hefting the pot" and that is also how I learned to gauge when to water. ( although the mini Phal I keep right now, is mounted)
At a visit to Germany, we saw many beautiful Phals ( sold everywhere cheaply) growing on windowsills. Many Germans have lace curtains in front of their windows, which provide perfect conditions/perfect light.
Jeff, I should add after reading that you water from the top, that one might want to make sure the crown of the plant is dry by the end the day, many Phals are lost due to crown rot. If there is water standing in the crown after watering, it is easily soaked up in a corner of a paper towel. These plant grow tilted in nature, so the rain water doesn't collect in the crown, but drains easily.

Thank you Ursala hefting the pot that's it !!!'When I water I avoid the crown and if I do get water in the crown I use a Kleenex that I twist the corner into a wick to remove it...

Thank you for starting this. Phals are HARD to please!!
I kept my phal (and only orchid) in the greenhouse. It seemed to like it there. After I over wintered it in the warmer conditions of my home, I thought I would get more enjoyment from it in the house. So I kept it i front of my brightest window. I was gifted by 3 blooms that lasted and lasted dispite being much smaller than the ones when I bought it. But now I am thinking it is not enjoying the convenience of air conditioning and thinking about taking it back outside to the greenhouse or bright shade in my backyard. It is healthy with green roots and new leaves but just not thriving. It is not a big as when I bought it and growing ever so slow. The humidity in the house is 50%. But it would be in tropical heat outside with high humidity. Would it be safe to transition to the outdoors where it is in the upper 90's now, 80's at night? Or should I wait til fall. What say you Experts??

Carol, if your in the area, they give ceee tours of the facklity. Comingnup the first weekend of October is the orchid festice there.

Cheryl, I could see myself hanging this plant into a tree, slightly tilted so that the water doesn't collect in the crown and simply water and fertilize along with your other plants/stuff outside. Normally around here, the lower temperatures in Fall would then initiate spiking.

Cheryl, the plant will love it outside under a tree, but I would wait until the temperatures moderate just a little. You're going to shock the heck out of it going from 70's and dry in the a/c to 90's and super humid all of a sudden. Maybe wait a month? These plants tend to pout a lot if you move them anyway, and an abrupt change like that is a big move!

Next year, maybe move it outside as soon as the night temperatures are above 60ish or as soon as you're using the a/c consistently. That way it will gradually adapt to the heat.

Thanks Elaine! Zone 6 is a tad different from Zone 9!

I am curious what types of fertilizers Y'all use on your Phals? Also how often do you fertilize and at what ratio???

Jeff, I'm using the potassium nitrate that Motes recommends in their video at 1 tbsp per gallon. No phosphorus, as I also (sometimes) water with well water that has plenty of phosphorus. I fertilize as often as the rain allows in summer, usually every 5 days or so. Taper back as the weather cools to about every 10 days in winter, depending how cool it is. If it stays in the 80's until Christmas as it did last year, well, weekly fert was in order then.

In spring I use the MSU (Michigan State) formula for orchids which still has low phosphorus, but a little bit.

I have been using Peters XL at about 1/4 strength 1 time per week...I hope I'm doing OK..They are looking happier anyway..Thank you Elaine I will look into those fertilizers also...I used to live about 1/2 hr from MSU...They are a huge agricultural school and have many many acres of land...They have a pretty darn good football team also....I'm an MSU fan for sure.....In fact my hat says it all

Here is a beautiful purple phal hybrid. Its at a local Grower of orchids

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbc...

That is very pretty, but I think(could be wrong) it's actually a Dendrobium.

Richard, We have the Fascination of Orchids in Sept. and I just bought 5 new ones over the weekend, so it's not likely that I'll be going to Joshua Tree in Oct. I'm out of room!

I agree with Tara. That's a den.

That's why they call it a Phalaenopsis type Dendrobium! Like Dendrobium bigibbum and its hybrids.

Thank you for the replies. I will move it back outside gradually. It's too bad I can't reach any of the crooks in our mature trees. And our winters can be too harsh to leave it out there. I will find it a nice showy place in the yard near a window so i can look at it.

Ursula said:That's why they call it a Phalaenopsis type Dendrobium! Like Dendrobium bigibbum and its hybrids.

Learn something new everyday! Ursula!

Ursula said:That's why they call it a Phalaenopsis type Dendrobium! Like Dendrobium bigibbum and its hybrids.

URSALA is right. Its a cross between the 2.