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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Cattleya Pair of classic purple corsage orchids with frilly dark lip
Dendrobium gracilicaule Dendrobium gracilicaule
Nephrolepis exaltata Nephrolepis exaltata
Phalaenopsis has some common insect problems:
Greenhouse Thrips
Hemispherical Scale
Thrips Found on Flowers and Foliage
Boisduval Scale
Phalaenopsis has some common disease problems:
Botrytis Blight of Greenhouse Ornamentals
Phalaenopsis has some other problems:
False Spider Mites

Moon Orchids Phalaenopsis

Previously known as:

  • Doritaenopsis
  • Doritis
  • Lesliea
Phonetic Spelling
fay-lay-NOP-sis
Description

Moth orchid is an epiphytic, tropical, herbaceous perennial in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). Moth orchids can range from a few inches to 2 feet in height and up to 2 feet (but usually less) in spread. Their region of origin is tropical and subtropical Asia and northeast Australia. The genus name comes from the Greek words phalaina, which means “moth,” and opsis, which means “like” because the flowers look like moths. 

Moth orchids are the most popular and widely available kind of orchid sold as a houseplant. Commercial production is centered in Taiwan and the Netherlands. A modern hybrid, of which there are more than 34,000 registered, may have a dozen or more species in its ancestry and an equal number of hybrid generations. Moth orchids are also crossed with related genera to produce intergeneric hybrids such as Aeridopsis (= Aerides × Phalaenopsis), Moirara (= Phalaenopsis × Renanthera × Vanda), Parnataara (= Aerides × Arachnis × Phalaenopsis), Renanthopsis (= Phalaenopsis × Renanthera), Rhynchonopsis (= Phalaenopsis × Rhynchostylis) and Vandaenopsis (= Phalaenopsis × Vanda). Hybrids previously known as Doritaenopsis (= Doritis ×​​​​​​​ Phalaenopsis) are Phalaenopsis because the genus Doritis is now treated as a synonym of Phalaenopsis.

Moth orchids prefer low light, warm temperatures and high humidity. They are winter hardy in USDA Zones 10 to 12 and consequently must be grown as houseplants or greenhouse plants in North Carolina. The best placement in the house is on an east windowsill, but they can grow well on well-shaded west and south windowsills. Since they prefer warm, humid, damp but not soggy conditions, they are planted in pots with a bark-based medium that provides excellent drainage. The roots can photosynthesize, producing a green color from chlorophyll production, so clear plastic pots are often used. Orchids should be watered in the mornings with tepid water by placing plants in a sink and allowing water to flow freely through potting medium and foliage. Let the pot drain completely so that plants do not stand in water. Mature plants should be watered once weekly or more often in the heat of summer. Potting mix should dry some between waterings. If the growing medium is pure sphagnum moss, it can be difficult to rewet. It is better to repot such plants into bark-based orchid growing medium. Plants should be fertilized regularly with a balanced fertilizer twice monthly at half strength or weekly at quarter strength. Orchids need to be repotted approximately every two years after blooms have faded or as new leaves begin to appear. The flower stalk should be cut just above the fist node below the faded flowers; often (but not always) the node will produce a branch with more flowers.  

Moth orchids will flower repeatedly once a year with proper care. The large-flowered, white species and hybrids that flower in spring require a cool, nighttime chill (ca. 55 degrees F for a week) in autumn to initiate flower spikes. The modern dwarf hybrids, which are bred from summer-flowering species, do not require a cool chill to initiate flowers. Flowers can last for four months or more. The showy flowers appearing in long sprays on arching stems are 3 to 6 inches wide in large-flowered hybrids but may be only 1 or 2 inches wide in dwarf cultivars. Traditionally, flowers were only white, pale pink or white with a pink lip, but breakthroughs in breeding are now giving consumers moth orchids in a wider range of colors including, yellow, cream, peachy tones and purple-red, as well as spotted (so-called “harlequin” patterns), splashed and variously patterned flowers. Genetic engineering has resulted in the production of blue-flowered moth orchids, but these are not yet widely available. Instead, consumers are offered moth orchids whose white flowers have been dyed blue, pink, or another color. These orchids, if they rebloom, will produce white flowers.

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Scale and mealybugs may appear. Flower bud drop, also known as bud blast, may be caused by changes in temperature, humidity, moisture, fertilizer or location. Botrytis spot on the flowers can be a problem. Shriveled or wrinkled leaves are a sign that the leaves are not getting enough water – either the potting medium is being kept too dry or the plant’s roots are damaged (often rotted by a soggy growing medium).

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Container Gardens
Cultivars / Varieties:
P. equestris, P. schilleriana
Tags:
#houseplant#epiphytic#orchid#ebh-h#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#hsc#hsc-fl
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
P. equestris, P. schilleriana
Tags:
#houseplant#epiphytic#orchid#ebh-h#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#hsc#hsc-fl
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Phalaenopsis
    Family:
    Orchidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Tropical & Subtropical Asia, NE. Australia
    Distribution:
    cultivated worldwide.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Epiphyte
    Houseplant
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Orange
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Flowers usually in white, pink, yellow or purple in various patterns. 2 true petals, 3 sepals, a "lip", and a "column" that contains the reproductive parts. They can be 1 to 4 inches across.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Variegated
    Leaf Feel:
    Fleshy
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Sheath
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Obovate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Thick green leaves 3-10 in long, 3-6 per plant, with few visible veins. Young leaves are glossy and clasp the flowering scape.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Insignificant
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Acaulescent, no visible stem.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Design Feature:
    Specimen