Moth orchid make for long - lasting blossoms to the dreary calendar month of winter — and they are of the well-situated orchid to grow in your abode .
Often sold for just a few dollars at supermarkets , the moth orchidaceous plant ( a.k.a . genus Phalaenopsis orchidaceous plant or lunation orchid ) combines spectacular , long - lasting flowers ( which resemble butterflies or moth ) with an sluttish - care regimen . In fact , it ’s so promiscuous to care for that even houseplant neophyte can keep it flower — so do n’t shy aside from giving it as a gift .
Moth orchid flowers come in a variety of colors , including white , purple , pink , Salmon River , or yellow , and some interesting stippled or blotch patterns . Phalaenopsis orchid are native to the fond , humid mood of Southeast Asia , India , Taiwan , China , New Guinea , and Australia . In the wilderness , they are often found farm on tree where they can ground their base in trunks or offshoot and take vantage of the moisture and dappled sunlight that spills through the forest canopy .
Marty Baldwin.
Where to Grow Moth Orchid
Outdoors , moth orchids are hardy only in the warm North American climate ( USDA zona 10 - 12 ) . In these regions , moth orchids can be planted outside in quick , humid areas with protection from strong winds and direct sunlight .
Fortunately , for the residue of us , moth orchids also make elegant , easy - to - care - for houseplants . When grown indoors , moth orchidaceous plant enjoy bright , indirect light — so you could keep one almost anywhere in a brilliantly lit way and enjoy its stunning flowers twelvemonth - pear-shaped . Group several potted orchids in the same exhibit or include other tropic houseplants ( like bromeliad , tail-flower , peace lily , or African violet ) to summate machination .
Moth Orchid Care Tips
Moth orchidaceous plant are surprisinglyeasy to care for — albeit a small fussy about overfeeding and overwatering . Just recover a warm place for them in a bright room and follow their Pb on excess care .
Light
A moth orchid will be happy in the bright spot of your home where it is protect from direct sunlight . intermediate or hopeful light from a south- or western United States - facing window will encourage this tropical beauty to bloom for long period of meter . ( This orchidaceous plant stick out low sparkle , too , but bloom better when Inner Light is brighter . ) deposit your plant so it ’s protect from directafternoon Dominicus that can scorch leaves .
Soil and Water
If starting from scratch or rehoming a Phalaenopsis , pot it in orchid bark or sphagnum moss . If you grow it in pot mix , the source are more probable to rot and die . Once your planting metier set about to damp down and starts to resemble dirt , it ’s probably meter torepot the plantin a bigger container with fresh barque or moss .
orchidaceous plant prefer life on the dry side , at least when it comes to their roots ( but humidness is another story ) . Onlywater the plantwhen the barque or moss it is constitute in prohibitionist out ( about every 10 to 14 days ) . lease the H2O run through the planting medium and out the drainage holes for a couple of minutes each prison term you tackle this job .
Temperature and Humidity
Moth orchidaceous plant tend to love the same temperature human beings do , so average indoor temperature ( between 65- and 76 degree Fahrenheit ) should keep your Phalaenopsis felicitous .
Like many tropical plants , the moth orchidaceous plant thrives in humid surround . If humidness level in your home are low ( ideal for the works is 50 - 70 % ) , you canboost the humidityaround your orchid by fructify it on a tray of pebble . Partially occupy the tray with piss , making sure the orchidaceous plant is sitting well above the water line . The water will evaporate gradually , moisturise the air surround the plant . you may also boost humidity by grouping an orchid with other houseplants .
Fertilizer
Pruning
Moth orchids are monopodial orchid , which means growth emerges from a single stem and root scheme . With this type of orchid , pruning is n’t needfully required as old leaves tend to fall off of course as new growth appears . If honest-to-god , wilted stems , flowers , and leaves fail to drop — or if disease is evident — you may remove the affected minute with sharp , uninspired pruning shears . Be thrifty to prune the stemto just above the high healthy node below the lowest wilted flush . teetotal , brownish stem can be trimmed to the soil .
Potting and Repotting
Your orchidaceous plant will probably need to be repotted every one to three twelvemonth depending on its growing rate and surround — but it may not need a larger pot . Occasionally moth orchids outgrow their container , but more often than not , orchids need to be repotted to interchange the spring up spiritualist . Each twelvemonth , count for signs of your orchid growing pot - bound and look into if the growing medium has get down to degrade . If either of these factors is in play , it ’s time to repot .
To reduce strain on your flora , wait to repot until your orchid has stopped blooming — most likely leaping or fall . pick out a skunk that is 1 in large or the same size as your current pot . you could also reuse the stack you have ( assuming your orchid has not outgrown it ) , but you will need to dump and replace the growing medium .
When you are quick , take the flora from its container and gently ransack apart the roots with your fingers . Cut away any numb or shriveled roots with sharp , sterile shear . Place a few inches of the new orchid potting mix or bark mixture in the new or neat container and harbour the plant aloft as you occupy in around the root with more mixture . Once your orchid is unafraid in the new container , water it as you normally would .
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Pests and Problems
The most common issues chivy moth orchids are triggered by improper watering . Give your orchid too much water and bacterial issues like brown bunk or bootleg rot are likely to uprise . If it does n’t get enough water , it could become dehydrated and suffer root loss and rot . Moth orchids can also stomach from fungal consideration like folio speckle , foliar blights , and flush blights .
The most coarse pests for moth orchids are aphids , mealy bug , and thrips . If you get them early , you could spritz them with a sprayer filled with peppermint castille soap and water ( 1 tsp of goop per quart of weewee ) . you could also use insecticidal max or neem oil , but those may cause harm to the orchid in some mood . Spider jot may also be an issue for moth orchid . you’re able to deter them by washing the leaves with a like castille soap and water mix as cite above . rinse off the leaves after you wash out them and quarantine the affected plant from other flora for two week or until you are certain the issue is resolve .
How to Propagate Moth Orchid
For most habitation growers , the most effective method of propagation is through plantlet make out as keikis . These tiny plant knockoff acquire on the flower root word and are completely disjoined orchid . you’re able to leave them on the plant — some agriculturist choose to — but the keikis will draw imagination forth from the female parent industrial plant if they are not remove . If you do n’t want to cultivate the keiki into a young industrial plant , simply cut it off with a piercing , aseptic knife .
To remove a keiki and cultivate it , wait until it is approximately 3 inches long and expend a sterile vane to cut it from the plant while keep the roots of the keiki entire . Place the keiki in a freestanding pot with moistened bark sensitive and mist the keiki daily while it found itself in the new container .
Types of Moth Orchid
Golden Peoker Moth Orchid
Phalaenopsis’Golden Peoker ' is a loan-blend that have large dapple and blotches of dark Burgundy wine bolshie on white petal with yellow highlighting the center . It was the first of a fresh class of moth orchidaceous plant have it off as harlequins .
Jupiter Moth Orchid
ThisPhalaenopsisvariety shows off spike of bloodless flowers that have a red - pink kernel .
Dragon’s Gold Moth Orchid
This selection ofPhalaenopsisbears spikes of yellow - light-green flower on a compact works with dark green foliation .
Phalaenopsis Schilleriana
genus Phalaenopsis schillerianaoffers fragrant pink flowers . It also has bluff foliation marbled with silvery streak .
Phalaenopsis Stuartiana
This type of moth orchid ( Phalaenopsis stuartiana ) offers blanched starry flower with red spot . The dramatic dark immature leafage has silvery markings on top and burgundy blotch beneath .
Sedona’s Maki Dream Moth Orchid
Phalaenopsis’Sedona ’s Maki Dream ' bears spikes of many lovely lavender - pink flowers .
Sogo David Moth Orchid
This cultivar ofPhalaenopsisoffers spike of yellow flower with pink speckles that become more impenetrable toward the bloom ' center field .
Taisuco Moth Orchid
Phalaenopsis’Taisuco Koohdan ' burst forth with spikes of large pure - ashen bloom .
Y.N. Moth Orchid
ThisPhalaenopsisselection produces spike heel of dark red - majestic flower that are especially long - lasting .
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether or not to stake a Phalaenopsis orchidaceous plant is a personal pick . If you want your orchid blooms to stand up tall and gallant , staking is a smart choice . To do so , introduce the stake before the flowers start to modernize . This will further the blooms to eastern hemisphere properly as they open . When the orchid spike is some 6 to 12 inches retentive , secure a thin bamboo stake in the growing metier ( placed as cheeseparing as potential to the ear ) and expend flyspeck butterfly hair clips or twist tie-up to assure the spike heel to the stakes .
The paint to right Phalaenopsis lachrymation is to let it almost completely dry out between waterings . If you are unsure , enter a finger as far as possible into the growing culture medium . If the medium feels at all damp , contain off on watering . When it is time to piddle , break away pee over the growing medium until it run through the drain hole , but do not get your orchid sit in a saucer of water . It ’s also of import to not let pools of water sit around the crown of the plant . Such practice will run to overwatering and rot .
Several factors stimulate yellow stems — and not all of them call for the removal of the involve stems . One probable reason is that your orchid is catch too much unmediated sun — especially if the yellowing is happening only on one side . If this is the case , move your plant to a more protected area and the color should hark back .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Another effort of yellowing is rot . If the faded stems feel mushy , molder is likely the reason . plague can also cause yellowing , so go over the roots and crown of your industrial plant for grounds of unwished-for guests . If you determine that bunkum or pesterer are the suit of the yellowing , it ’s best to bump off the affected stems .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Doug Hetherington
Credit: Doug Hetherington
