News From My Orchid!

By Julie Boudreau

A few months ago, I shared with you my great excitement at seeing new flower stems begin to develop on my moth orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.). Well, it’s now in bloom!

I just kept doing nothing special, except watering it, keep the room cool and voila! All the flower stems that had appeared now have flowers, or very large flower buds announcing an upcoming bloom.

I am very happy to see that the color of the bloom is… indescribable! Neither pink, nor yellow, nor mauve, which are the classic colors of moth orchids. Mine is more skin-colored with hints of peach and brown!

It is interesting to note that the flowering of moth orchids develops on a floral stem that grows rather horizontally. We tend to believe that the flowering is vertical, because it is always fixed on a stake that keeps it upright. However, you’ll understand this horizontal growth better when you return the plant to its original state. In its natural environment, the butterfly orchid is an epiphytic plant, which grows on the branches of trees. Thus, the flowering seeks to move away from its anchor point in order to be more visible to pollinating insects. Some floral stems are even downright drooping.

Of course, in the case of my little moth orchid, we are dealing with a complex hybrid, whose origins have almost been lost! It is impossible to identify the cultivar and impossible for me, with my legendary memory, to remember where I could have found this beautiful specimen!

Even though my moth orchid has been blooming since mid-February, I was waiting for more flowers to open before sharing the news with you! And seeing the number of flower buds forming, I guess I’ll be able to enjoy this beautiful bloom for a few more months! Hopefully till spring!