About
An evergreen, epiphytic orchid, about 55cm tall, with fleshy, broadly oval, dark green leaves to 30cm long, and a minimum of 3 to 4 arching stems bearing white flowers 8cm across, with a white and yellow lip, appear over a long period at any time of year.
About the genus
Phalaenopsis are a large genus of species and hybrid mainly epiphytic orchids. Short, upward growing, stem-like rhizomes with no pseudobulbs produce oval, fleshy mid to dark green leaves and flowers in branched racemes from the base of the leaves
Growing conditions
SunlightPartial shade
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHNeutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1A
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants
HabitClump forming
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesHouseplants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in open bark-based, epiphytic orchid compost allowing the aerial roots to hang outside. Provide bright filtered light, good ventilation and from spring to autumn mist daily for high humidity, water freely as compost dries out, allowing water to drain and apply an orchid fertiliser monthly. Provide a minimum day temperature of 17°C and night minimum of 15°C; See Phalaenopsis cultivation
PruningNo pruning required, cut back flowered stems to a lower node to encourage further flowers
PropagationSmall plantlets (keiki) may appear from the nodes on the flower stems, detach plantlets when they have developed several good roots and pot up in orchid compost, water sparingly at first, but mist daily
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free