List of Characteristics and Traits of a Phalaenopsis Orchid

Preferred Habitat

• Moth orchids are epiphytes, a term for plants that grow on tree branches, trunks or other objects in a non-parasitic fashion. Their epiphytic growth habit means they are best adapted for the diffused light under tree branches, and thus do well indoors, in the low light levels found in most houses. Moth orchids prefer high humidity and moderate temperatures as well, since they evolved in the damp tropical forest regions of Asia. Moth orchids are happiest at temperatures from 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Physical Structure

• Phalaenopsis orchids bloom in a wide variety of colors, mainly in delicate shaded pastels. The amount of blooms per branch and size of each flower varies significantly by variety and cultivar, although all have flattened petals. Orchid leaves are green and flattened as well, and root systems silvery-white and abundant. The stems are long and gracefully arcing, producing blooms in winter and early spring. Their roots are well-adapted for absorbing surface moisture from host surfaces, such as tree bark, but are extremely intolerant of long periods of wetness.

Genus and Native Range

• The Phalaenopsis genus encompasses 63 species of orchid, as well as a wide variety of cultivars, hybrids and subspecies, both naturally occurring and man-made. Although they may be found across much of the globe today, their native range stretches throughout the tropical regions of Asia, from Sri Lanka in the west to The Philippines in the east. They are thus adapted to seasonal drought, occasional cool temperatures, and periods of high humidity and near-constant moisture.

Phalaenopsis as a Houseplant

• The combination of temperature range, light level and moisture range preferred by moth orchids makes them excellent candidates for houseplants. Moth orchids grow best in east- or north-facing windows that provide relatively low levels of diffused natural light. Especially bright windows may require sheer curtains to protect the plants from overheating. The temperature range found in most households is ideal for orchid growth, as long as they are provided with additional humidity. Orchids require 50 percent to 80 percent ambient humidity, and should thus be grown in humidity trays, or in rooms with humidifiers.