Overrated for ease, underrated for beauty — Phalaenopsis

People describe Phalaenopsis as easy and I'd push back on that slightly. feeding with a half-strength orchid fertiliser weekly in summer needs consistent attention and crown rot from water sitting in the leaf crown can undermine progress quickly if ignored.

Where Phalaenopsis is genuinely underrated is the beauty. wide hybridisation resulting in an almost unlimited colour range is extraordinary when you see it in person. I display it in a north or east-facing windowsill and it gets comments from everyone who sees it. rest period in summer with focus on leaf and root growth is the time to really understand what this plant offers. Not for the truly neglectful gardener, but absolutely worth the attention it requires.