In the fourth of our Christmas houseplant series the spotlight falls on phalaenopsis orchids.

PHALAENOPSIS These grow as epiphytes in moist warm conditions with no real dry season. This means that they experience little seasonal change, so they have the ability to carry successive stems of flowers throughout the year.

TEMPERATURE Phalaenopsis appreciate steady temperatures around 18C (65F).

POSITION IN THE HOME A well-lit position out of the glare of direct sunlight would be ideal, even behind a net curtain on a window sill that does not face south would suffice.

WATERING Try to keep the plant evenly moist all the year round, but never stand the pot permanently in water as this will lead to root rot. Check the plant at least once a week as they are normally grown in open compost with a high content of chunky bark pieces, which help to ensure that there is good drainage around the roots. Rainwater, at room temperature, can be better for them than alkaline tap water.

HUMIDITY Phalaenopsis like high humidity, so stand the pot on a wide saucer of moist gravel.

FEEDING Feed regularly all the year round using a special orchid fertiliser.

WHAT TO DO AFTER FLOWERING On the flowering stem there are a series of buds between the base and the position of the first bloom, when the last flower has faded cut the stem back to the fattest of these, which produces a new flowering stem.

If you have already cut the whole stem off after the first flush of flowers do not worry. A new flowering spike will arise from the opposite side of the plant within a few months. Sometimes even well-cared for plants fail to bloom, so moving your orchid to a slightly brighter spot, or even more successful, a slightly cooler room often stimulates flower bud production.