Phalaenopsis hybrids: butterfly orchids in all colors
Phalaenopsis hybride
- Exposure
- Sun
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Orchids Orchidaceae
- Genus
- Butterfly orchid Phalaenopsis
- Species
- Hybrid butterfly orchid Phalaenopsis hybride
In the wild, Phalaenopsis grow in the mid-mountains and tropical rainforests of China, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines. But butterfly orchids have attracted the interest of collectors and scientists alike. Botanical species have given rise to hundreds of hybrid varieties. Their colors and fragrances may be unprecedented, but they all share common characteristics.
How to recognize a Phalaenopsis hybrid orchid?
Phalaenopsis orchids are epiphytic plants with an upright or drooping habit. Their roots are fleshy, hairless and green at the tip.
At first glance, the plant appears aculeate. In reality, it conceals a one- to two-centimetre stem, covered by intertwining roots and foliage.
Phalaenopsis, whether hybrid or not, have tough, elliptical green leaves. Depending on the species, they can measure up to 50 centimetres long and twelve centimetres wide.
The flowers bloom on the flowering stem, which can reach a meter in length. Their butterfly-like shape inspired the name Phalaenopsis (from the Greek phalaina, moth) and the nickname butterfly orchid. Each flower is perfectly symmetrical. The three more or less oval sepals form the calyx. The corolla consists of two oblong petals and a three-lobed labellum.
In the wild, Phalaenopsis flowers can be plain (Moon Orchid), striped (as in phalaenopsis lueddemanniana) or speckled (Phalaenopsis Kolibri). The shades depend on the variety. The inflorescence is bright white in phalaenopsis Aphrodite and luminous purple in the Phalaenopsis violacea. But scientists are going one step further. Thanks to cross-breeding and hybridization, butterfly orchids can now be found in all colors. From white to blue, pink, purple, red and yellow, Ravello, Harlequin, Limelight and Tsarine orchids come in every imaginable hue.
In the wild, Phalaenopsis flowers can be plain (Moon Orchid), striped (as in phalaenopsis lueddemanniana) or speckled (Phalaenopsis Kolibri). The shades depend on the variety. The inflorescence is bright white in phalaenopsis Aphrodite and luminous purple in the Phalaenopsis violacea. But scientists are going one step further. Thanks to cross-breeding and hybridization, butterfly orchids can now be found in all colors. From white to blue, pink, purple, red and yellow, Ravello, Harlequin, Limelight and Tsarine orchids come in every imaginable hue.
Our care tips
Phalaenopsis are the simplest orchids to grow. For your Butterfly orchid to flourish, place the plant less than one meter from a window.
Watering
Phalaenopsis hybrids are watered when the substrate is dry. To find out if it's time to water your Butterfly orchid, look at its roots. As long as they're fleshy, shiny and green, you don't need to do anything. When they become pale, dull and stunted, your plant is thirsty.
Place your Phalaenopsis hybride and its pot in a slightly wide container. Fill the larger container with non-calcareous water, such as rainwater or low-calcium mineral water.
Leave your Phalaenopsis to bathe for 10 to 30 minutes. Once the roots have regained their shiny green color, drain your orchid and put it back in place.
Make sure the heart of the plant remains dry. If water has seeped into the center of the leaves, tilt your Phalaenopsis hybride to drain it, or blot it up with absorbent paper. And don't forget to drain off any stagnant water in the saucer or planter.
Misting
In addition to regular watering, misting prevents the plant from drying out due to heat in summer and heating in winter.
Phalaenopsis hybrids do not like hard water. Prefer rainwater or filtered water.
Repotting
The end of plant growth is a good time to repot phalaenopsis hybrids.
Repotting should always be done outside of flowering periods.
Phalaenopsis hybrids They like to be cramped. Repot only when the roots have filled the pot, the substrate has broken down, or the plant no longer fits in its container.
Get a clear plastic pot with drainage holes. This material has two advantages: it allows the roots to benefit from the light, and you can monitor their condition.
To repot an epiphytic plant, you don't need potting soil, but rather a substrate that allows the roots to anchor themselves. Commercially available orchid substrate, composed of bark, sphagnum moss, and other mosses, is suitable. To prepare for repotting, moisten the growing medium.
Meanwhile, remove the plant from its current pot. Unravel the roots and completely remove the old substrate. If you notice any flat, dry, or damaged roots, trim them with a pair of scissors or clean pruning shears.
Add a small amount of substrate. Place your Phalaenopsis hybride in the center of the container and add more substrate. It should reach up to the base of the stem and fill in the spaces between the roots. You can gently shake the pot to distribute the mix more evenly. Once the pot is full, lightly pack the substrate without compacting the roots.
Fertilization
To promote the growth and flowering of your Butterfly orchid, you can apply a potassium-rich fertilizer, such as an orchid fertilizer.
Cleaning
Dust prevents leaves from absorbing light and slows photosynthesis. You can use a brush or feather duster to clean the foliage.
Prune
To prevent the spread of disease and pests, always prune with a clean, disinfected tool.
After the first flowering, cut off the flowering stem above one eye where all the flowers have faded. New buds will appear.
After the second flowering, or if the stem is completely dry, cut it off at the base.
After the second flowering, or if the stem is completely dry, cut it off at the base.
Taking cuttings
You can take cuttings all year round.
Phalaenopsis hybrids produce shoots called keikis. They form in the leaf axils, at the base of the plant, or on the flowering stem.
Locate a keiki with at least three leaves and three three-centimeter roots. You can detach it with your hands by gently rotating it. After a few rotations, the young shoot will separate from the orchid.
You can also detach the keiki with clean secateurs or scissors. In this case, cut the flower stem a centimetre above and a centimetre below.
Soak the roots of your keiki in water at room temperature for ten minutes.
Prepare a pierced plastic pot. Place clay balls in the bottom for drainage. Add a mixture of sphagnum moss and bark. Place your keiki in the center and fill with the growing medium.
Young plants like humid atmospheres. You can place them in a terrarium or greenhouse until they form new leaves.
Wintering
The plant needs a winter period to flower from one year to the next.
Phalaenopsis hybrids bloom again on their own. If no buds appear two months after the last bloom, your Phalaenopsis hybride may need a boost.
For two to three weeks, place it in a room with a temperature of 15°. Reduce watering. It shouldn't be long before new flowers appear.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposure
- Sun
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting method
- In pots
- Tags
- BeginnerFloweryCold-sensitive
- Origins
- East AsiaSoutheast Asia
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Leaf colors
- Dark greenLight green
- Flower colors
- WhiteRedRoseSalmonYellowOrangeBlueFuchsiaVioletPale pinkPale yellowPale greenCream
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Moon Orchid
Phalaenopsis amabilis
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