You may also like:<\/strong><\/p> Today, you can pick up a moth orchid at the supermarket, so it\u2019s hard to imagine that the cultivation of orchids was once the domain of the aristocracy. The discovery of the genus Phalaenopsis<\/em>, which was easy to breed and grow, changed that.<\/p> Jump to: <\/strong><\/p> Phalaenopsis<\/em> was first described in 1825 by the Dutch botanist Carl Ludwig Blume on the Indonesian island of Nusa Kambangan near Java; it is said that during one of his expeditions, he noticed what he thought was a group of butterflies floating motionless among the trees.<\/p> If you want to grow a moth orchid, it pays to know that they hail from tropical climates and are epiphytes<\/p> <\/blockquote> John Lindley named two species in his Gardeners\u2019 Chronicle of 1848, which were Phalaenopsis rosea <\/em>(now Phalaenopsis equestris<\/em>), the \u2018pink butterfly plant\u2019 introduced by collector Thomas Lobb from Manila through Veitch\u2019s Nursery; and P. grandiflora (now Phalaenopsis amabilis<\/em>), with white, fragrant flowers.<\/p> Moth orchids soon became more popular than the previous favourite, the Cymbidium<\/em> orchid, which only flowered once a year, had grassy foliage that looked dull for most of the year and took up too much space. Phalaenopsis<\/em> were more compact, flowered for months and were tolerant of a wider range of conditions, and soon became staple houseplants for every home.<\/p> If you want to grow a moth orchid successfully at home, it pays to know that they hail from tropical climates and are epiphytes, found perched on accumulations of organic matter on rocks and trees.<\/p> Their aerial roots absorb moisture and nutrients from rainfall, the atmosphere and water filtering through the organic matter above. Plants growing under the jungle canopy in deep shade are far more robust than those found in bright sun.<\/p> Mimic these conditions by growing your moth orchid in bright light, where it receives some direct sunshine in the early morning or late evening \u2013 a windowsill is ideal.<\/p> Temperatures should be as consistent as possible \u2013 20-30\u00b0C during the day and 15-20\u00b0C at night. Ideally, you should even transport your new moth orchid from shop to car in a protective sleeve, particularly in cold weather. Grow Phalaenopsis<\/em> in proprietary orchid compost or bark chunks. These allow airflow around the roots, improve drainage and prevent root rot.<\/p> Grow in bright light in a spot that gets a little direct early morning or late evening sun. A windowsill is ideal. Keep away from radiators and draughts, and bring in from behind curtains at night; low temperatures can cause buds and flowers to drop. Plants withstand temperatures down to 10-12oC but a minimum of 15oC is ideal.<\/p> Few houseplants can compete with the showiness of a moth orchid, so complement their beauty with ferns<\/p> <\/blockquote> Grow in an orchid compost or in 50mm to 1cm bark chunks to allow airflow around the roots, improve drainage and prevent rot. Clear plastic pots make it easier to check the colour of the roots \u2013 green roots are hydrated, while silvery ones need watering \u2013 and can be hidden in an outer ornamental pot.<\/p> Water regularly rather than wait for the roots to dry out and change colour. Brown dead roots can be snipped off and there is no harm in trimming roots when repotting. Both roots and leaves photosynthesise so green tints to the roots are not a cause for alarm.<\/p> Water around every two weeks from spring to autumn, then reduce in winter. Tepid rainwater is preferable but they will tolerate tap water. Trickle water into the top of the pot to moisten the bark and roots, avoiding the \u2018crown\u2019, then allow to drain. Or plunge in water for ten minutes, shake away excess or allow to drain. Never let them stand in water. Many people kill orchids by overwatering.<\/p> Feed during the growing season with a specialist orchid feed or half-strength houseplant feed. Omit the feed every fourth watering to flush out excess salts.<\/p> Re-pot at any time of year, but only once a plant is too large for its container or when the compost decomposes \u2013 usually after around two years. Roots growing outside the pot are simply replicating growth in the wild. Pots full of roots also prevent overwatering in winter.<\/p> Plants flower at least once annually, and last for years, so don\u2019t bin plants after flowering. Sacrifice the last flower and cut the main flowering stem to just above the third or fourth node.<\/p> Keep at around 5oC lower for a month; this will hopefully encourage a secondary flower spike with new flowers. Only do this once, because trying again will stress the plan<\/a>t. Alternatively, cut the stem down to below the last bud. This allows the plant to recover so the new flowering spike is much more vigorous, with larger, longer-lasting blooms.<\/p> Dryness at the roots causes flaccid leaves. Existing leaves may not recover but fresh new leaves emerge after watering. White, fluffy mealybugs at the leaf bases need to be dealt with promptly. The RHS Orchid Committee advises picking these off by hand. You could also try an environmentally friendly spray.<\/p> Phalaenopsis<\/em> Puppy <\/strong><\/p> The bright-white flowers of this compact orchid have daintily golden speckled centres that are held above glossy green leaves. Height and spread: 40cm x 30cm. AGM*.<\/p> Phalaenopsis<\/em> Perceval<\/strong><\/p> This agreeable compact Phalaenopsis<\/em> displays large flowers striped purple-pink with a dark- purple lip. It is very floriferous with remarkable \u2018flower power\u2019 for a small plant. 33cm x 30cm. AGM.<\/p> Phalaenopsis<\/em> Violet Queen <\/strong><\/p> This eye-catching selection has faintly striped violet flowers and a darker, rich- violet lip. Good for growing in groups or as a feature plant where space allows. 29cm x 28cm. AGM.<\/p> Phalaenopsis <\/em>Anthura Modena<\/strong><\/p> This vigorous plant displays large lemon-yellow flowers with raspberry-speckled centres. Ideal against a plain background where the minute detail in the flower becomes prominent. 54cm x 33cm.<\/p> Phalaenopsis <\/em>Safe Haven<\/strong><\/p> An understandably popular and extremely attractive orchid, whose simple white flowers with a deep-purple lip and intricate, orange- speckled centre create Phalaenopsis<\/em> Dover<\/strong><\/p> An elegant plant with large mid-green leaves and plain white flowers with a yellow lip and mauve at the throat. It is very floriferous, often displaying three unbranched flower spikes. 50cm x 35cm. AGM.<\/p> Phalaenopsis<\/em> Sunny Shore<\/strong><\/p> The pale-yellow and white flowers of this elegant orchid are spaced attractively along the flower spike, which is positioned above elegant upright leaves. 32cm x 24cm.<\/p> Phalaenopsis<\/em> New Life<\/strong><\/p> An elegant fusion of white, pink and yellow flowers. Breeders have replicated wild plants with a scent that can only be detected just after sunrise on warm days for around an hour. 32cm x 33cm. AGM.<\/p> Phalaenopsis <\/em>Anthura Denver<\/strong><\/p> With large mid-green leaves and branched flower spikes, it creates an elegant floriferous display producing a mass of white flowers, which are faintly striped purple and have a purple lip. 60cm x 40cm. AGM.<\/p> Phalaenopsis<\/em> Birdie <\/strong><\/p> Producing masses of buds and flowers, this compact, multi-stemmed hybrid has pink-striped flowers with a plain mauve lip and yellow throat held at the top of the flower spike, and elegant leaves. 27cm x 27cm. AGM.<\/p> Phalaenopsis<\/em> Anthura Salta<\/strong><\/p> A floriferous plant with striped purple-pink flowers and a plain purple lip marked yellow at the throat. Multi-branched, it creates a pleasing effect as a single specimen. 31cm x 20cm. AGM.<\/p> Add colour to the winter months with these delicate houseplants that offer exotic, long-lasting flowers, and are easier to look after than you may think. Words: Matthew Biggs, Photographs: \u00c9va Nemeth <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":42704,"template":"","categories":[1,17,51],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"9"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/the-best-indoor-orchids-for-long-lasting-colourful-blooms-plus-how-to-to-keep-them-alive-and-flowering-again.jpg",1200,800,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/the-best-indoor-orchids-for-long-lasting-colourful-blooms-plus-how-to-to-keep-them-alive-and-flowering-again-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/the-best-indoor-orchids-for-long-lasting-colourful-blooms-plus-how-to-to-keep-them-alive-and-flowering-again-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/the-best-indoor-orchids-for-long-lasting-colourful-blooms-plus-how-to-to-keep-them-alive-and-flowering-again-768x512.jpg",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/the-best-indoor-orchids-for-long-lasting-colourful-blooms-plus-how-to-to-keep-them-alive-and-flowering-again-1024x683.jpg",800,534,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/the-best-indoor-orchids-for-long-lasting-colourful-blooms-plus-how-to-to-keep-them-alive-and-flowering-again.jpg",1200,800,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/48\/2024\/12\/the-best-indoor-orchids-for-long-lasting-colourful-blooms-plus-how-to-to-keep-them-alive-and-flowering-again.jpg",1200,800,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Add colour to the winter months with these delicate houseplants that offer exotic, long-lasting flowers, and are easier to look after than you may think. Words: Matthew Biggs, Photographs: \u00c9va Nemeth","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/42703"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Fact file: What is a moth orchid<\/h3>
Moth orchid care<\/h2>
How to look after a moth orchid<\/h3>
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How to grow Phalaenopsis<\/em><\/h3>
How often to water a moth orchid<\/h3>
![\"Phalaenopsis](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/12\/357A6265_preview-edited.jpg\")
How to repot a moth orchid<\/h3>
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The best moth orchid varieties<\/h2>
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Where to see and buy moth orchids<\/h3>
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