I got one of these plants for Valentine's Day. Hubby bought it at Lowe's and the lable also called it "Orquidea De la Polilla" and "Phalaenopsis amabilis." While googling Phalaenopsis, most varieties seemed to be white, and this one has purple flowers.
The tag for its care mentioned bright light and to keep it moist. One site said to keep it on a tray of pebbles (with water) and in an eastern window. Right now the plant is on a table close to a southern window with no pebbles.
This house is dry and not warm in winter. I turn the heat down to 60F every night and up to 65F each day. Yeah, we wear sweaters a lot. Today the humidity outside is 40%, but's it's often drier indoors with the heating, obviously.
I guess I can kill this plant within the year and get a full refund from Lowe's, but I sort of like it and would like to keep it around for longer. I will put it on a tray of pebbles so it gets more humidity. I don't have a mister here as most of my plants are succulents and don't need misting. Should I buy a mister and use it daily? (now that sounds raunchy!)
I can put this in an eastern window but the heat would drop down very low at night, as heavy drapes are closed on the window at night and this poor plant would be caught between the window and the drapes. It gets to 20F some nights here. Or I could keep it on its table by the southern window where it might only get some direct sun for an hour or so at this season and it wouldn't be on a windowsill to catch a chill. Or, I could place it in a southern window made of glass bricks with no curtains. I sort of like the last idea, but it would have to share the niche with a fingers jade (monstrose Crassula) that has no other place to go.
So, can this plant be kept? Any of you have any experience with this type of flora?
TIA