Winter Care Tips for Phalaenopsis Orchids - Orchid Care for Beginners

This video is sponsored by rePotme, check them out here go.missorchidgirl.com/repotme77 They also provided products like pots, clips, some of the stakes and fertilizer I used in this video.
00:00 - Intro
01:17 - 1. Don't leave your Orchid in the cold
02:44 - 2. Make sure your Orchid still receives good light
04:30 - 3. Adapt your watering regime to the 'new' environment
05:28 - 4. Postpone repotting for spring
07:08 - 5. Don't stop fertilising your Orchid
08:26 - 6. Don't let your Orchid touch cold surfaces
09:44 - 7. Be careful with heaters around your Orchid
11:02 - 8. Be mindful of accumulated pools of water
12:12 - 9. Growth can be slower in winter & it's normal
14:20 - My birds
15:18 - Outro
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[@MissOrchidGirl]

This video is sponsored by rePotme, check them out here go.missorchidgirl.com/repotme77 They also provided products like pots, clips, some of the stakes and fertilizer I used in this video. Check out our entire Orchid Care for Beginners Series! kzbin.info/aero/PLxo6tXzj__mZzIrS7nCGjI6NEwWCwvuya

[@josecotto7940]

This is my new religion. Thank you for all you do. We know.

[@marlenebornman1841]

,i have also joined the religion. Lol

[@marlenebornman1841]

Good luck to us

[@GlennParker5]

My phal spiked for the first time in 2 years after I found your channel and followed your guidance!! I’m so thrilled and super grateful to you 😭😭

[@ladystardust9707]

Hi Dani! I’m a new subscriber, and just purchased my second phalaenopsis yesterday. I’ve been binge-watching your videos, and have already learned tons. Love your content and how easy it is to understand.

[@marcyhawkkotovsky2212]

Thank you Dani, because of your videos and great advise, I have a beautiful and profusely growing/flowering orchid. Also for providing a quality source for growing supplies. Now I find myself wanting more of these amazing plants ! Sure do enjoy the way you teach. 🌺

[@baltschoolofdance]

Hi Danny! Thanks for this reminder of winter care. Also, I wouldn’t worry so much about the background noise-honestly it is barely noticeable when you are talking. Maya and Joey are far more noticeable but they just add to the charm and humor of your videos and personality. I think they are adorable and pretty funny with their poignant “comments!” 😂

[@kaitlyndill3503]

Look at the little chickens!!! 😂 I love your videos Danny! My orchid collection and addiction is all thanks to you.

[@bettapalfish9057]

Great to see Maya and Joey again. They are so beautiful. We need to see more of them. Thanks for this video.

[@jo-annjewett198]

After years of not being able to keep an orchid alive I started watching your videos and now have 4 in various stages of reblooming. Some for the third time since receiving them as gifts. One phalaenopsis has 18 buds/flowers! I am a certified master gardener but failed for so long with orchids, which I love-so this was a challenge I have finally achieved and thank you for helping me!!

[@roslynclifford5983]

Lol with the naughty bird babies. Even though I have been growing orchids for a while now, your tips and hints for beginners are always welcomed. My collection is fairly new, but healthy based on your recommendations. Thanks as always.

[@craigpickthorne3508]

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge, I've been able to keep a grocery store Phalaenopsis flowering for the last 5 years!

[@PlantObsessed]

Love the report me pots. Here the furnace is on all the time in winter and dries out faster than summer. That is why I stick to the clear pots. Thanks for all the great videos.

[@barbarafarthing9786]

I could NOT love you more! Adorable, beautiful and so knowledgeable. Thank you so much.

[@wandashaw3551]

Hi Danny, thanks for the winter care tips, I've been growing orchids now for about 6 years and still get a bit nervous about winter watering and temperatures. Videos like yours helps me keep my orchid mind in a peaceful place!!

[@bryntheboy23]

This video came at the perfect time

[@selene_7191]

valuable orchid info and cute birds?! what a steal

[@angelinimartini]

My orchid leaves burned a few weeks ago because the tree that is normally shading the window lost its leaves and I didn’t notice it… and then it developed root rot at the same time. I am babying it like crazy now! I hope everyone notices what has changed in the environment with the seasons. It is so important and I was negligent… I hope you can do a video on what to do with the leaf that may have touched a cold window if you have any

[@dendee1148]

You are such a good teacher.....I love your birds

[@caroll6541]

Love your birds! ❤❤

[@notnotnever]

Thank you for the help. Your beginner's videos are invaluable!!

[@janeehayward2778]

I love your show I watch it every day

[@daniellebrown6345]

Hello!! Thank you so much for your videos. My boyfriend gifted me an orchid last year for my birthday and it died. He got me another one when he saw how sad I was about the first one dying. He said “I’ll just keep buying them if they die” but I thought no, that’s so sad. I sat down and watched at least an hour of your basic videos and they helped immensely. I’ve since took to buying the orchids from the “last chance” section which are the orchids that are done flowering or are dying. I’ve “saved” a lot of them and along with the ones I’ve gotten as gifts I’m so proud to announce my collection is up to 17 orchids! I’ve only lost a total of 3 since I started collecting last year. I’ve gotten my friends interested in my “orchid day” when I soak and doctor them every two weeks or so, it’s lots of fun. Thank you so much ❤️

[@andreelauzier3276]

I love your birds! 🐦

[@Twind613]

Great video. Thanks for showing us the "culprits"!!! They are beautiful!

[@PetraEmmy]

Fantastic information.. and the birds are so enjoyable.

[@charlotterzeczycki1810]

I love your videos and thanks to you and them I now have 6 and now all are respiking

[@bethany3371]

Your birds are beautiful. I laughed when you called one of them chicken....that's a word I use sometimes for cute. Thank you for the tips on orchids!

[@marlenebornman1841]

I have my first orchid very excited

[@dorkny11]

Thank you Dani for this video! You answered my questions I've been thinking about lately. It's almost a year since I received my first orchid. I enjoyed seeing their life cycle this past year. I'm excited for the next flower bloom 😊

[@birgitcraggy6938]

Thanks Dani.......I got 9 orchids and with all your tips, they all grow an flower beautiful. Thanks again x

[@aida087]

YES!! Hi Danny thank you so much for sharing as my Orchids aren't doing to well so I'll be using your tips!!❤️🥰🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@annatomacari9349]

Excellent advice thank you!

[@ann-marieo.5359]

Thank you Dani for the very helpful video!! I’m still new to orchids this is only my second year with them and I need all the tips I can get.

[@heatherparks1194]

Thank you for doing this video

[@janetobermann157]

Your birds are adorable!

[@sarojahariharan7834]

So beautiful they are

[@gaozy]

Thank you!!! My little orchid hasn’t bloomed in almost 2 years but its leaves have been resilient for sure!

[@mzkittyx]

Thank you for showing your birds! I've always been so curious having a bird of my own

[@joycegauche994]

Hi Danni. I have watched all your videos and grateful for your advice. Only follow you. I had the most magnificent blooms 2 years ago and decided to repot all 5 of my Orchids... really thought they needed to. The flower spikes have not been that great and two of them have no flower spikes at all as yet. The one the flower spike started to die off so I cut it back a little. So not a happy chappy (me) at the moment. This comes to you all the way from South Africa in the Western Cape. Keep up the good advice... thanks.

[@evannorcom1925]

Thanks!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

thank you! 🧡

[@scheers100]

Learned allot about phal’s thanks to your channel and excellent explanation. I fertilise my phal’s al year around with every watering, only micro-dosis. So when watering is less, fertiliser is less to.(hope this is not wrong,because this makes everything easier)

[@idemelendez1779]

Thank you for all your videos. I’m from Puerto Rico and I had a big collection of orchids. I move to USA and I bring them all with me. They were outdoors in the humid hot climate from the island. They all died. 😭 Now I’m trying to do it properly and learning how to do it differently. Because the way I used to take care of them it’s not going to work here.

[@siobhanshuttleworth6975]

Ahhh so cool, I didn’t realise orchids starting flowering following drop in temperature. All 5 of mine are putting out spikes at the moment.

[@ChristyD97]

In winter, I put bubble wrap between my plants and the window that I keep on my window sills. I find it helps and I can keep my plants close to the windows in winter. And I love your little chickens. They can cluck all they want;)

[@PetraEmmy]

I do this as well.

[@andreleblanc9714]

I’ve been watching you now for a good year. I feel like I have doctorate in orchids because of your videos. I have a question but I have to say this again. Your logical, rational, non-woowoo approach to your delivery sets you apart from every other orchid channel I’ve seen. Your advice stands up so well because it’s so practical and biologically based. I’m curious if you have an education in science. My question: the only extra thing I’ve started to do is put the smallest amount of “leaf shine” (a miracle grow product for houseplants) on a towel and go once over the leaf. Will this hurt it and should I stop doing this?

[@baltschoolofdance]

@Andre’ LeBlanc. Danny uses leaf shine to prevent pests so probably they will be fine as long as you don’t overdo it and smother them with it (which it does not sound like you are doing).

[@andreleblanc9714]

@@baltschoolofdance Your response is so appreciated! Thank you.

[@Paulina_the_luna]

Thanks for this video!✨ I live in Finland up in so north of Europe it's getting dark at 3 pm already, so not much daylight at winter 😒it's always interesting will my three orchids survive or not... Especially since I moved now and now all light they get is from the west windows and there's an Air heat pump few meters away but it doesn't blow straight at them 😅 oh yeah and your birds are so pretty, it was fun they made noice at the background 😂😍

[@grayce9183]

I enjoy your videos, I thought orchids only bloomed once a year, mine bloomed last spring and now I have 3 of my orchids blooming again and , not complaining I got excited when I seen them growing blooms again. How often can they bloom a year.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, new flower spikes are typically produced once a year, branches from the main spikes can happen multiple times 😊

[@cassandrachrist1556]

Haha love the end, where the one flew off and you hear a plastic cup drop lol. Also, your hair looks amazing, color wise. Thank you for the tips! I'm sure you have a video on it, but any recommendations on the type of lights that orchids love??

[@Morghena]

I live in Belgrade Serbia at the moment with only north facing windows and a generally very dark apartment. My phal bloomed for me last year and is right now pushing out TWO flower spikes :D. I have no growth lights or anything. No idea how that works, but I'm doing my best to support her with water and the occasional fertiliser

[@jenniferedwards6238]

Thank you for all the valuable info. I didn’t see the link to the aquarium channel.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Ooops I need to change the link from shorts to the second channel! youtube.com/@DannyM.O.G. here it is 😁

[@aayesha2527]

Danny love your videos. Is there anyway you can do care videos for paphiopedilums and maxillaria orchids please. I know you have old videos but I'm looking for more updated content in your current environment?

[@diediedice]

Whoops... I bough my two orchid babies yesterday and fell asleep with the window open because of a migraine. It goes down to -5 C° atm :'^) I hope they didn't take the hit that hard, as I made sure to let the bark warm up when I reported them before that

[@barbaraackerman57]

And I just went outside to bring my big Phal inside!

[@nmatheis]

Discovered your channel recently after finally deciding to figure out what to do with a grocery store Phal I received as a gift. Your videos are very helpful and pragmatic unlike the bazillion videos telling me to get bananas and garlic for a month and then dip the whole orchid in the resulting liquid Yuck! By the way, i think your birds might be white doves...

[@TK-ke3fs]

I am a beginner and so proud to have kept my one orchid alive and happy thanks to your videos. I also never soak it though. I give it exactly 100ml of lukewarm water on Wednesdays? Is that okay?

[@Dahlialynn]

Do you have a video that shows what to do in case a leaf shows stress from prolonged contact with a cold window? (Is it a withered bent look at the tips?) Also, thank you so much for your wonderful comprehensive series!

[@cahyaparamita5711]

Hi Dani! I actually found out, that my orchids stopped growing their flower spikes (that emerged already) if I didn't continue to keep them in colder environment! Some of the flower spikes just stopped growing somehow..

[@faeryegrrl777]

I have a mini-mark seedling, that came as three connected plants People on Reddit don't know what happened. A seedling with keikis? The center and biggest stem died, and I removed it and now I basically have twin seedlings growing together and making a new leaf each and roots. I wish you had a video on seedling anomalies like mine, or maybe a tiny keiki that bloomed, still attached to the stem, and one bud came out of the center of the crown of the keiki and I have no idea if it's a seedling that had a terminal spike (or bud stem in my case) and it will live, or not.

[@craftymaiden4573]

Hi Danni have you ever heard of an orchid called the Rose Grape Showy Medinillia Pink Lantern orchid plant, and do you know anything about growing them, thanks for all your very informative videos I do enjoy watching them and have learned a lot from you over the last 7_ 8 years tfs your knowledge with us hugs from the UK 🇬🇧 xx

[@connatpar]

@MissOrchidGirl You have been my goto when I began my orchid journey. Would so appreciate any help you can offer. In the past year and 1/2 I adopted probably about 50 orchids. There was a big cold snap and I had my orchids in my makeshift greenhouse… I thought that would be enough. Sadly they were ALL horribly damaged. 😢 I have since brought them to an area that has more protection and need to give them some much needed tlc. Any advice you can give would be great…interestingly enough, very little information regarding what to do in this case for the best chances of survival. Thanks!

[@orchidquest]

Can you do winter care for some other orchids too, Danny? Esp. since phals are flower growers in cooler weather?

[@mwmranch]

Hello Danni (sp)...I plan on moving roughly 3200 kilometers in January when the weather in my area is cold and usually snowy. Would you please do a video on the best ways to pack orchids to keep them warm and safe during such a long move. I'm going to have to transport them in a moving truck and won't be able to drive straight through, will have to stop at least 2 nights at a hotel. Thanks

[@changemymind06]

Soooo I'm in MN and the house's humidity is very low. We don't have a humidifier system yet so I find I need to water my plants a little more often than in the summer (I just use less water but more often). I do have a little humidifier I could use - do you think that would be ok instead of changing the watering routine? I have one orchid I've had for 2 years without a spike and just rewatched an older video you had that mentioned spikes typically grow under the 2nd leaf..... well I checked and she grew second leaves in the past year so fingers crossed!!!

[@ladysylvia4018]

Just discovered your channel! My orchid has 2 green spikes and suddenly one of them is sprouting midway! Do you leave the green spikes after flowers have gone or cut them off? I love your doves! I feed many wild Mourning Doves here on my balcony in NM.

[@cxielmail4075]

Hey Dani! I don't know if you can read this but what do you do after receiving an orchid from the mail? They have been in transit for 5 days and everything seems healthy/okay except for 2 dendrobium freebies that's pretty banged up. Do I water them? or aerate them? If anyone could point me to the right direction I would be very appreciative!

[@robinnitowski2009]

I bought fertilizer that is 20 x20x20 is that good for regular Phalls in bark. It says for slab mounted phals. I’m not sure if it’s safe. Thank you for your help.

[@LizE2654]

In the case of sequential phals, is the use of a heat mat appropriate? Have you used one? If so, can you recommend one?

[@rosariagervasi2641]

What kind of fertilizer do we use? How much sun light?

[@jomavin4484]

Do you have any advice on heat mats under pots? I live in Australia and we don’t generally have central heating here so don’t heat the house while we are at work. It’s quite cold where I live and I lost all of my phals last year. Hoping not to lose them this year

[@marlenebornman1841]

What is a good way to clean my orchids leaves

[@Amasonstar22]

My forever conondrum: I moved all my orchids to window sills so they receive more light during winter (I live in Hungary so probably super close to your Romanian experience, Danny) but as typical here, the radiators are right below the windows. X__x The sills themselves aren't hot, I've checked, but it's such a struggle to keep the leaves away from the cold glass while *also* not letting them be in the way of the rising hot air... I don't know, what's more important in your opinion: to keep them by the window for light, or away from the heater (even at the cost of light)?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Oh dear hmmmm... If the spike is already forming then try away from the window, best to avoid bud blast now 😁

[@Amasonstar22]

@@MissOrchidGirl Thank you for answering! I do have spikes (the first ones in my care😍) so yeah, I'd REALLY hate to lose them. I'll move them, then - thank you!

[@baltschoolofdance]

I struggle with the same radiator/window issue. I actually got a bluetooth hygrometer and put it in the area in question to see what the temp fluctuations really are. I can look at the data on my phone- the fluctuations haven’t been that dramatic so far this fall but I’m guessing they will be once we are in the dead of winter and I may have to move my plants then.

[@amaliafilip2886]

@@MissOrchidGirl MissOrchidGirl OMG I am from Romania and I can't believe my favorite orchid guru lived in my country. Danny are you speaking Romanian? I just saved 22 orchids from Leroy Merlin shop at the beginning of November. The caretakers of the shop neglected them to the point of selling an orchid with 5 lei. Poor babies it broke my heart and I almost started crying after seeing and entire shelf full of unwanted flowers mostly flowerless orchids siting outside in the could at 10°C day and 5 at night. I didn't got money to save just one that day because I was just exploring this shop. I leaved and miraculously found 140 lei under my car but Leroy shop was closed and after a week I managed to find precious time to go back and save all the orchids I can from that place. But now I realized they suffered a lot more than what I could see with my eyes. They were so dehydrated one of them had bendable leafes like paper,and all had a starting woolly aphids infestation from the other sick plants from that shelf, but I got rid of the aphids. The sad thing is they suffered frostbite I think and now 3 of them are almost dead leafless or with one leaf and the central core is white yellow and mushy one even growed mold.Can you help me please? I don't know what to do if the rest of them have frostbite in the core. I noticed the core where the leaves are growing start to be moist and the leaves fall off even if they are light green. Please tell me if can do something. The rest of them are doing well. They got the dark green color back on the leafes the roots are happy and green also,after I watered them. I selected only the most salvable of them. They were like 40+ phals with mini flowers in that shelf but mostly dead. Now they have their own room, I separated my orchids from them because I was aware that I can infect my healthy one with aphids from the saved ones. I'm glad I could save at least half of them. I don't know what colors they will have when they bloom, but this will be a big surprise for me if I manage to restore them to the standard of a healthy phalaenopsis. Now I think I have 30+ orchids to take care of. But nothing is more satisfying than saving a plant or an animal and got the reward of seeing it healthy and happy. I also love animals, had a lot of parrots and fantail pigeons in the past but now I have 2 french bulldogs. With birds was hard because I have to move and travel a lot in the past but now I miss having feathered friends.

[@ollersmith679]

Danni, warmer Winters sound very appealing to me..i need warmth as much year round as i can get..where do you live?

[@spoly8139]

I live upstate New York which has very cold winters. The problem is my apartment is always very hot. The landlord has the heat running full blast and it often feels like 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I open the windows to let cool air in but it is still very warm and very dry. My orchids are potted in spaghnum moss and although in summer I only have to water once a week but now in winter with the hot heat inside the moss dries out within 3 days. Should I water my orchids that frequently? I do mist them every morning to raise the humidity but worry about the moss drying out so quickly. Thanks for your help as I'm afraid all my orchids will just dry out!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, yep water them whenever they get dry, even after just 3 days 😊

[@sarojahariharan7834]

Can you please tell me if the leaves are wringing how to revive it and is it due to cold I live in USA

[@suzannematthews5798]

Hello I need help with my catelaya s. There are rotted roots and or no roots now. Can they be saved. ? How? I’m in zone 9 b Do they need to be inside in winter Anything I can do? Which of potting medium do I use? They came in styrofoam bark and moss. I don’t think it’s good

[@ema2d]

Tell me...when to re-pot my phalaenopsis, they keep on shooting new spikes even the old ones still dangling with flowers in full bloom. the last batch bloomed for 10 months long. 😅

[@billiesheads212]

You mentioned to continue fertilizing in winter but you didn't say how often. Can you explain please?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, I did explain, keep watching! 😊

[@maryhelgesen5309]

Hi Danny I really love that design on your shirt. I am sorry I missed the opportunity to buy one. Is there another opportunity coming up.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, will see about maybe a different one, but similar just to spice it up 😁

[@TK-ke3fs]

My philanopsis has been flowering for over a year. Is that normal? Where do I cut the stem when they stop flowering?

[@cucpeponis7317]

I am in Michigan . Should I give orchids fertilizers in winter?

[@nalinip2473]

Hi Can anyone help? Left my orchid in the cold porch, the top 2 new leaves have flopped over... Is my orchid dying? It's my first orchid which I bought for my birthday. Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks 🙏

[@denataylor7377]

I live in Central United States and have no ability to put my orchid outside. Should I put them in a cooler room and how long do they need to stay cool? None of my or his have billed and I've had them at least 2 years

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, yep a cool room at night for 2-3 weeks should help with spikes!

[@lisaallen7219]

Where do get your outer pots from. I live in the US .

[@caroll6541]

SPLIT LEAVES ~ how can I prevent from this happening? I have 2 older large beautiful orchid plants 🌱 that always have at least 1 or 2 large leaves that split in half on seam? Why is does this happen? 😢

[@malwads1836]

🤔This makes me wonder...Is it actually beneficial to keep a phalaenopsis in warmer temperatures to PREVENT flowering for a year or 2 so it fan focus on more leaf & root growth???Would it then have more energy to flower even better as a result?Also if you kept a phalaenopsis at cooler flowering temperatures all the time would it bloom repeatedly potentially until it became sick or died OR does the phal have a natural defense mechanism to prevent blooming???All this talk about seasons & temperatures really makes me wonder about this🤔.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, the answers are: yes, yes, no :) yes, nurseries keep them warm until they are mature enough to make 3-4 spikes at once sometimes and cool them whenever they feel they're done :))) yes if kept cool they can 'bloom themselves to death' through multiple secondary spikes and even new main spikes if there is space. No, the orchid can't 'refuse to bloom' if it's healthy, has space and the temps induce specific hormones production.

[@doroteyaagayna5714]

Hi Danny, I have a Phalaenopsis orchid that last year suffered a terrible mealybugs infestation. It's clean now, but I'm worried that the mealybugs might have eaten the inner most leaf of the orchid (the one that isn't showing its tip yet from the crown). The thing is that I've spotted mealybugs in the crown, I treated the crown with Hydrogen peroxide 3%, and I dried the crown well with cotton. While socking the excess Hydrogen peroxide I noticed a tiny piece of leaf on the tip of the cotton, and I'm worried about the health of the crown. Did you encounter such situation in your experience? Can a damaged most inner leaf mean a permanent damage to the crown? Thank you in advance for any insights!

[@morkec622]

Last year I got a Phal that turned out to be damaged this way, not sure if it had suffered mealybugs at the breeder or if it was from another cause. It's been over a year and it hasn't grown new leaves from that crown, but it's blooming normally and it does have three healthy keikis on last year's spikes (I left them on for that reason). The current crown doesn't show signs of dying off either, so it's possible for it to keep pushing new spikes and basal keikis. Either way, if the original crown is gone then it's gone, but the plant can still survive in one way or another, especially when it's pushed to do so by circumstances :)

[@doroteyaagayna5714]

@@morkec622 Thank you for the response! I took mine with the mealybug infestation from the flower shop. It had one new leaf just above the crown and this leaf still grows. I didn't notice crown rot at the time (and there's none currently) so I'll keep my fingers crossed for a new leaf during spring time. We'll see.

[@matthersh5861]

Fact or myth: can i use heat mats for orchids that like heat in winter?