article_snippet: Phalaenopsis, like many cultivated orchids are epiphytes, meaning that many cultivated orchids grow in bark crevices in forest trees.
article_snippet: many cultivated orchids subsist on rain or mist, and nourishment comes from debris lodging in the tree bark, so many cultivated orchids sparse roots are as important for clinging on as for absorbing nutrients.
article_snippet: In a pot in your house, the common spotted orchid needs to think the common spotted orchid is in a tropical forest.
article_snippet: In winter, move the common spotted orchid closer to an east or west-facing window and the extra light will encourage flowering.
article_snippet: To avoid that, imagine the common spotted orchid perched up a tree, soaked by rain from time to time but drying out in between.
article_snippet: That is why it is best to grow epiphytes in slatted containers or transparent, perforated orchid pots and to allow the prehensile roots to poke into the air.
article_snippet: During the growing season, feed monthly with special orchid feed.
article_snippet: Repot the common spotted orchid only if the common spotted orchid has become pot-bound or has been in the same compost for more than two years.
article_snippet: Use special epiphytic orchid compost —
article_snippet: it will appear coarse and lumpy and is available at good garden centres.
article_snippet: Remove any dead or shrivelled roots, shorten the remaining healthy ones to about 12cm and replant the common spotted orchid in the same size pot.
article_snippet: Next year, when the repotting has worked and you are flush with success, start looking for different orchids.