Phalaenopsis amabilis, the best-known butterfly orchid
Phalaenopsis amabilis
- Exposure
- Sun
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Orchids Orchidaceae
- Genus
- Butterfly orchid Phalaenopsis
- Species
- Moon Orchid Phalaenopsis amabilis
Among the approximately 25,000 species in the orchid family, Phalaenopsis amabilis is undoubtedly the best known. This epiphyte left the forests of Indonesia and New Guinea in the 18th century to find its way into collectors' greenhouses. Today, the Phalaenopsis amabilis is one of the best-selling houseplants in France and Europe.
How can you recognize Phalaenopsis amabilis, the “moon orchid”?
The Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid has supple, fleshy aerial roots with green tips. Its stem is no more than two centimeters long. It is hidden by the emerging rhizomes and the base of the foliage.
Each plant has between three and five leaves. Alternate and oblong in shape, they can grow up to 50 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide.
The curved flower spike emerges from the leaf blades. It bears up to 100 flowers, arranged in clusters. Each flower measures seven to ten centimeters. With their three oval sepals, two lateral petals, and three-lobed labellum, the flowers of the Phalaenopsis amabilis resemble a moth. It is this distinctive feature that has earned it the nickname “butterfly orchid.”
In the wild, the inflorescence is a brilliant white, accented by a yellow labellum speckled with red. But like phalaenopsis lueddemanniana or phalaenopsis Aphrodite moon orchid has been hybridized. At florists, it comes in various varieties with yellow, purple, mauve, fuchsia, pink, or salmon-colored flowers.
In addition to being hardy and easy to care for, the Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid is non-toxic. It poses no danger when handled or if ingested. You can therefore feel free to bring one home without worry if you live with pets and young children.
Our care tips
Phalaenopsis are the simplest orchids to grow. For your Moon Orchid to flourish, place the plant less than one meter from a window.
Watering
Moon Orchids are watered when the substrate is dry. To find out if it's time to water your Moon 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 amabilis 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 amabilis 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
Brumisez le feuillage avec une eau non calcaire améliore l'hygrométrie et lutte contre les attaques de nuisibles.
Repotting
The end of plant growth is a good time to repot moon Orchids.
Repotting should always be done outside of flowering periods.
Moon Orchids 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 amabilis 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
Mix a special orchid fertilizer with the water to promote growth and flowering.
Cleaning
To improve photosynthesis, clean the foliage with a damp sponge.
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.
Moon Orchids 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
A period of dormancy is essential for your Moon Orchid to bloom again.
Moon Orchids bloom again on their own. If no buds appear two months after the last bloom, your Phalaenopsis amabilis 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
- Origin
- South Asia
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Leaf color
- Dark green
- Flower colors
- WhiteRedRoseSalmonYellowFuchsiaVioletPale pinkPale yellow
Discover plants from the same family
Butterfly orchid
Phalaenopsis hybride
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
