If anybody is growing these novelty Phalaenopsis, now is the time for extra diligence! As the days shorten and the temperatures cool, 2 things need attention in my opinion.
#1 Make sure you are on the look out for insects, primarily mealybugs. They love to hide out on the undersides of leaves. They also can be found kind of burrowed into the central core. I am using Neem Oil or Isopropyl alcohol mixed at 50% with plain water. I spray them and rinse the alcohol off after a few minutes.
You can often find little immature mealies on the top side of a leaf OR you can find a glistening, shiny patch on a leaf surface. If you touch that patch, it should be sticky. That is from the orchids inner juices, sugar, seeping out on to the leafs' surface. The mealies are the cause of that.
#2 You may want to consider increasing water frequency. With indoor winter heat, and with being under lights, your Phalaenopsis may dry out a bit faster then you are use to.
Right now my lights are on for twelve hours. I am going to cut hours to 10 next week. I will maintain ten hours a day until mid March.
