Butterfly orchid Phalaenopsis amabilis in pot
White flowers of Phalenopsis amabilis
Butterfly orchid Phalaenopsis amabilis in bloom
Phalaenopsis Amabilis in the wild
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Phalaenopsis amabilis, the best-known butterfly orchid
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Of the 25,000 or so 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 for the greenhouses of collectors. Today, the amabilis butterfly orchid is one of the best-selling houseplants in France and Europe.
How to recognize Phalaenopsis amabilis, the moon orchid?
The Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid has supple, fleshy aerial roots with green tips. Its stem measures no more than two centimetres. It is concealed by the rhizomes and the base of the foliage.
Each specimen has between three and five leaves. Alternate and oblong, they can reach 50 centimetres long and ten centimetres wide.
The curved flower spike emerges from the leaf blades. It supports up to 100 flowers, arranged in clusters. Each flower measures seven to ten centimetres. With their three oval sepals, two lateral petals and three-lobed labellum, the flowers of the amabilis orchid resemble a moth. It's this characteristic that has earned it the nickname "butterfly orchid".
In the wild, the inflorescence is brilliant white, highlighted by the yellow labellum spotted with red. But like phalaenopsis lueddemanniana and phalaenopsis Aphrodite, the moon orchid has been hybridized. Florists now offer a range of varieties with yellow, purple, mauve, fuchsia, pink or salmon flowers.
In addition to being hardy and easy to care for, the Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid is non-toxic. It presents no danger when handled or ingested. So if you live with pets or young children, you can adopt it without worry.
Our maintenance 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 moon Orchid 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.
Spray
Brumisez le feuillage avec une eau non calcaire améliore l'hygrométrie et lutte contre les attaques de nuisibles.
Repotting
Every spring, repot your Phalaenopsis amabilis to give it more space.
Repotting should always be carried out outside flowering periods.
Moon Orchids like to be cramped. Repot only when the roots have invaded the pot, the substrate has decomposed or the plant no longer fits in its container.
Get a pierced pot made of transparent plastic. This material has two advantages: it lets the roots take advantage of the light, and you can monitor their condition.
To repot an epiphytic plant, you don't need potting soil, but a mixture that allows the roots to anchor themselves. You'll find orchid substrate on the market, made up of bark, sphagnum moss and mosses. To prepare for repotting, moisten the substrate.
In the meantime, remove the roots from the plant. Uncoil the roots and completely remove the old substrate. If you notice any flat, dry or damaged roots, cut them off with a clean pair of scissors or pruning shears.
Pour in a little growing medium. Place your moon Orchid in the center of the container and add substrate. It should reach right up to the crown and get in between the roots. You can shake gently to distribute the mixture more evenly. Once the pot is full, pack lightly without suffocating the roots.
The end of plant growth is a good time to repot moon Orchids.
Repotting should always be carried out outside flowering periods.
Moon Orchids like to be cramped. Repot only when the roots have invaded the pot, the substrate has decomposed or the plant no longer fits in its container.
Get a pierced pot made of transparent plastic. This material has two advantages: it lets the roots take advantage of the light, and you can monitor their condition.
To repot an epiphytic plant, you don't need potting soil, but a mixture that allows the roots to anchor themselves. You'll find orchid substrate on the market, made up of bark, sphagnum moss and mosses. To prepare for repotting, moisten the substrate.
In the meantime, remove the roots from the plant. Uncoil the roots and completely remove the old substrate. If you notice any flat, dry or damaged roots, cut them off with a clean pair of scissors or pruning shears.
Pour in a little growing medium. Place your moon Orchid in the center of the container and add substrate. It should reach right up to the crown and get in between the roots. You can shake gently to distribute the mixture more evenly. Once the pot is full, pack lightly without suffocating 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.
Cutting
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 wintering period is essential for your Moon Orchid to flower 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
| Family | Orchids - Orchidaceae |
| Type | Butterfly orchid - Phalaenopsis |
| Species | Moon Orchid - Phalaenopsis amabilis |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposure | |
| Substrat | |
| Planting method |
In pots |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Beginner Flowery Fritillary |
| Origin |
South Asia |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 11b |
| Leaf color |
|
| Flower colors |
|
Discover plants from the same family
