The Opti-flor collection is sold in the top-range florists and garden centres.
Click here to find the closest Opti-flor sales outlet near you.
Opti-flor does not deliver directly to florists. We sell our orchids via a closely woven international distribution network of over 400 trading companies. They supply florists, garden centre owners and other sales outlets for Opti-flor orchids. If you would like to carry orchids from our collection in your assortment, then please send us an e-mail to: marketing@optiflor.nl and we shall put you in touch with one of our distributors.
It is better to water the soil around the orchid rather than the centre of the plant. Rainwater is preferable to tap water, which contains a lot of calcium. Watering early in the day is best. It is even better to immerse the pot for 5 to 10 minutes in a bucket of water. After doing so, the orchid can easily go seven days without water. The natural environment of Phalaenopsis has a high humidity. So if you want to cultivate or propagate the plant, it is best to leave it in a humid place, like a kitchen, bathroom or conservatory.
An orchid only needs watering when the soil has dried out and the roots in the pot have turned grey. As that is difficult to see in a non-transparent decorative pot, you could use a gauge, for example a wooden skewer. Check every 7 to 10 days whether the stick is dry. If it is still moist, then the plant does not need any water. If the stick is dry, then water the plant. In general, it is sufficient to water the plant once every 7 to 10 days.
The colour of the roots is the best indicator of whether your orchid is getting enough water. If the roots are green, the plant has enough water. When the roots turn grey, your orchid needs watering.
It is important that Phalaenopsis has an airy soil, which provides moisture-retaining drainage. Special orchid soil is available from most garden centres and is essential. Because there are few nutrients in the airy orchid soil, it is best to fertilise Phalaenopsis when watering it. There is special orchid fertiliser available for sale. Fertilisation is required from March through October, about twice a month.
Because there are few nutrients in the airy orchid soil, it is recommended to fertilise your Phalaenopsis from time to time, preferably when watering it. There is special orchid fertiliser available for sale. Fertilisation is required from March through October, about twice a month.
To get the plant to flower again, once the flowers have died off, cut off the spike(s) just above the second eye near the plant. A new spike will grow in a few weeks to a few months. It is only a matter of time before your Phalaenopsis is flowering again.
This is the start of a new plant. It is best to wait until several leaves and three or four air roots have appeared on the offshoot. Once the air roots are about 5 cm long, you can carefully cut this offshoot from the stem and place it in special orchid soil. After repotting, moisten the soil. Or you can let the offshoot continue growing on your original plant.
It is best to repot an orchid every three to four years. Always use special orchid soil. Before setting the plant in the new soil, carefully remove any unhealthy roots. The air roots can also be set in the new soil. Do not repot an orchid while it is flowering.
Phalaenopsis naturally grows in shady areas. It is best to place the plant in a bright location, but avoid excess sunlight. Especially in the months from April through September, it is recommended not to put the plant in direct sunlight. Phalaenopsis also does not like drafts, and it is important not to put the plant near the central heating radiators. Phalaenopsis does best at a temperature between 20°C and 22°C. Make sure that the temperature does not fall below 16°C.
Roots growing outside the pot are air roots. They missed getting in the pot. Because they do not have any function for the plant, you can simply cut them off, but it is not necessary to do so.
If the orchid has air roots, you do not have to discard the plant. You can simply use the air roots as new roots. Remove the rotten roots and stick the air roots in the pot with new soil.
It consists of sugars from an overactive orchid. The orchid produces sugars. Unfortunately, you can't stop this process. If it irritates you, it is best to carefully remove the sugars from the leaves and spike with a lukewarm cloth.
The most important cause of bud drop is cold, possibly combined with too much water or too little light. Make sure that the room temperature for your orchid is always at least 16°C and prevent drafts. At lower temperatures the roots become inactive and the buds fall off.
Exposure to ethylene can cause buds to turn yellow and fall off, and flowers to dry up. Sources producing a lot of ethylene include many varieties of vegetables and fruit. Therefore, do not place your orchid too close to a fruit bowl.
It is possible that you are watering the plant too much. When the leaves start hanging, people tend to think that the plant needs water. It is sensible to check that the roots are in good health. If they are, then do not water your orchid for a week. If the roots have rotted, then remove them and repot the plant using the air roots. Wait a few days before watering.
Most likely, your orchid has been standing too long in water. It is also possible that your orchid has been standing in water that is too cold. That can cause the roots to rot, resulting in yellowing of the leaves, which will ultimately drop off.
The most common types of bugs are woolly aphids, scale bug, red spider mite, greenfly, cottony maple scale and slugs. Before purchasing pesticides for these kinds of bugs, ask for advice from a local garden centre.
They are probably woolly aphids. It is rather difficult to get rid of these white, woolly bugs. The only way to defeat woolly aphids is to spray the plant or immerse it in an organic pesticide dissolved in water. If you have a severe woolly aphid plague, you could try using double the dose given on the package.
Opti-flor is committed to dealing carefully with nature. For example, we do not collect plants from the wild. We want to leave nature untouched, plus we want to prevent the importing of any pathogens.
Enabling consumers from around the world to enjoy our exclusive orchids is our mission. Working with respect for other people, nature and the environment is self-evident to us. We do our best to minimise our environmental footprint. Some examples are given below to illustrate the ways in which we strive to contribute to a clean and environmentally friendly future.
Phalaenopsis, also called butterfly orchid, originates from the tropical rainforests of Asia, New Guinea and Australia.
Phalaenopsis is popular because it flowers for such a long time. Unlike other orchid varieties, which often flower for 6 to 10 weeks once a year, Phalaenopsis can flower for at least 2 to 6 months and even 2 or 3 times a year.
An orchid goes well together with other plant varieties and is thus eminently suitable for use in a plant arrangement. Put the plant still in its pot in the plant container, so it will retain its firmness.
That depends on the place where you intend to keep your Phalaenopsis. The darker the location, the better it is to have more flowers open. Always choose an orchid which has several flowers open, even if you put the orchid in a light place.
