Moth Orchid

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I would like to share my story about one of the beautiful plants I had taken care of before I moving here to North Carolina. It is the white phalaenopsis, from the Greek word “phalaina” (moth) and “opsis” (looks like). It is commonly known as moth orchid.
I consider it an usual plant because of its sensitivity, adaptation and variation. It is monopodial (one-footed) and grows as a single stem, with each new growth originating from the apex. It can be epiphytic (grows on plants) or lithophytic (grows on rocks). There are 50 species and half are hybrid.

Growing orchids is somewhat stressful and yet is worth every minute you spend because their beauty is relaxing. It responds to a specific temperature range from 60 to 80 degrees F. Light is also vital. The color of the leaf tells you if it has proper light or not. Lime green indicates improper light, yellow indicates too much, and dark green means perfect light.

Due to man-made hybrids, you can find orchids almost everywhere. They originate in India, Southeast Asia, Philippines, and south and north Australia. They grow easily on tree ferns and charcoal and it can be propagated in two methods. The first is by cutting the flowering stem above the internode or the dormant “eye.” The other is by topping, since it is monopodial and continues to grow.

Jennifer Dickerson
Raeford, Lumbee River EMC

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