Plant of the Week
Moth Orchid
Latin: Phalaenopsis ‘Doris'
Orchids are back! To the orchid specialists they’ve never been away, but to
the average gardener orchids disappeared from the nursery trade about the time
General Motors decided it was no longer cool to have tail fins.
Today, because of developments in propagation and high volume distribution
through the home improvement stores, we’re seeing orchids offered throughout the
year.
Most of the big-box retailers are offering an assortment of orchid species,
but one of the most beautiful and easy to grow is the moth orchid.
Phalaenopsis
is one of the epiphytic orchids that in nature resides in the tops of trees
clinging precariously to a limb. It’s native to southeast Asia, with many
species found on the Malaysian Peninsula.
It has leathery, strap-shaped leaves about 8 inches long. It lacks the
swollen pseudo-bulb found in many of its epiphytic kin. The flowers are produced
throughout the year on 2-3 foot long arching stems. They open sequentially from
the base to the apex over about three months time.
The flowers are about 3 inches across and usually come in shades of pink or
white. The lower lip is small in comparison to two large petals that are
arranged opposite each other and give the general impression of a moth in
flight.
The discovery of the first Phalaenopsis orchid was a result of the
spice trade. A 25-year old clerk with the Dutch East Indies Company was
stationed on the spice island of Ambon off the coast of New Guinea in 1653 when
he began collecting plants from the wild. One of the plants was P. amabilis,
which was finally published about a century later, but under a different name.
The task of defining the genus according to modern standards fell to the
tyrannical German botanist Karl Blume (1796-1862) who, working in Holland, tried
to maintain a monopoly on all of the botanical herbarium specimens coming out of
that part of the world.
The Phalaenopsis grown today are nearly all hybrids, a practice that
began with zealous fervor about the middle of the 19th century in
Europe and is continued today by both hobby and commercial breeders.
Gardeners interested in learning more about orchids should attend the
Arkansas Flower and Garden Show at the Little Rock Convention Center March 2, 3
and 4. Hermann Pigors, an orchid hybridizer and grower from the Chicago area
with over 40 years experience, will speak at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 3. He’ll
explain the intricacies and delights of orchid growing.
Phalaenopsis orchids are great buys, at least as flowers go. While
many might consider the $25 price a bit on the steep side, the flowers routinely
last for two to three months. Given their long period of bloom, a pot of orchids
is much more economical than a weekly bouquet of cut flowers.
And given reasonable care, it’s possible to get moth orchids to rebloom. In
fact, of all the orchids, Phalaenopsis is considered one of the easiest
for the novice grower. The plants should be located where they get bright light
but not direct sun. They should be grown in a coarse fir bark potting medium to
insure the plants always have good drainage. But don’t let the medium get bone
dry.
A monthly application of liquid fertilizer during the summer will keep plants
growing and help them set another flower spike.
After the bloom fades, the spike should be removed and the plant relocated to
a warm, bright location. In the summer, they can be moved to the shaded patio.
Given routine fertilization and care, they should bloom again come fall.
By: Gerald Klingaman, retired
Extension Horticulturist
- Ornamentals
Extension News -
February 16, 2001
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