Anoectochilus

This is a genus of about 50 terrestrial deciduous orchids that are native to China, SE Asia and Indonesia and are often cultivated for their unusual leaf patterns. They are typically found in broad-leafed, evergreen, humid primary forests in moist soils as a creeping, ascending, cool-growing terrestrial orchid. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek words anoiktos, meaning "opened" and cheilos, meaning "lip".

When grown indoors, the plant is usually grown in intermediate to warm conditions in a shady area. The plant does best when potted with a well-drained medium composed of sand, fir bark, perlite, and soil. Plants should be watered when potting medium dries.

The rosette of leaves are large and dark with a contrasting network of veins. Flowers are large velvety upward-facing orchids with the upper sepals fused to form a hood and the lower sepals spread apart. They grow on short spikes and come in colors of greenish-yellow, white, or sometimes pale yellow, with some varieties showing reddish spots.

Use as a houseplant unless you live in a tropical area.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:     Watch for mealybugs, thrips, aphids, spider mites, scale, and slugs/snails. Diseases include fungal and bacterial diseases.