6th Issue Vol.2, No.

3 ISSN March 2009

CULTURE TIPS IN GROWING THE

BUTTERFLY ORCHIDS
By Norberto R. Bautista

Butterfly Orchids or
Phalaenopsis, are one of the
most graceful and elegant
group of orchid. It is locally
known as mariposa or moth
orchid, as its flowers resemble
butterflies in flight. It is one of
the most common orchid plant
in the country and also in Asia,
Europe and America . In fact,
the Philippines is the center of
Phalaenopsis orchid diversity
in the world, since half of the
Phalaenopsis species and
varieties worldwide are found
in our country. It is actually
easy to grow and it takes a
relatively short time to flower.
However, the Philippines , most hobbyists are having difficulty in growing this orchid due to the
fact it has a different cultural requirement compared to Vanda and Dendrobium orchids, specially
for its requirement for light and water. Phalaenopsis requires shade, and do not like too much
water, as it excessive watering tends to cause the plant to rot.

The genus name Phalaenopsis came from the Greek word ‘phalaena’ meaning moth,
and ‘opsis’ meaning appearance. Out of the 42 species and 36 varieties, 20 species and 18
varieties are found locally. Many of our Phalaenopsis species have been ancestors of modern
Phalaenopsis hybrids. There are more than 40,000 hybrids in this genus and there are more
hybrids being registered in this single genus than any other orchid genus. The advantages of
growing this group of orchids are: that it is easy to mass produce from seeds, and plants from
flasks can be flowered within 8 to 18 months. Phalaenopsis can easily be programmed to flower,
by exposing plants to night temperature 10 oC lower than that of daytime temperature and
increasing humidity. This is usually done by growing them in cool areas like Antipolo, Tanay,
Tagaytay, or Baguio . However, greenhouses can be modified to produce a cool humid
environment by evaporative cooling. Breeding and large scale production techniques or protocols
for these orchids have already been developed and perfected. There are locations in the country
where Phalaenopsis can be grown inexpensively. There is a very wide potential for Phalaenopsis
for the foreign market.

This is due to the fact that Butterfly orchids offers a wide range of flower color, from
white to pink, greenish, lavander-gray, with flower markings like stripes, spots and blotches. In the
United States alone, over 75% of all orchids (flowering potted plants) sold are Phalaenopsis.

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Orchid sales worldwide have been increasing and large scale production of potted Phalaenopsis
has been done in the Netherlands , Germany, China , Taiwan , United States and Japan .

In the US and Europe , Phalaenopsis have replaced the common people’s concept of
‘orchid’, which was once symbolized by Cattleya and Cymbidium. Phalaenopsis is now readily
available, affordable and mass marketed in supermarkets.

An ocean of Phalaenopsis orchid hybrids in the farm of VS Orchids, Tagaytay City.

Types. Phalaenopsis orchids are usually categorized either as species or hybrids.

Commercial hybrids usually created to follow a ‘standard’ plant form which is typically
characterized by large, full and round flowers, in arching flower stalk. They have round or oval
thick leaves, in short stems. Flower color ranges from white, semi-alba (white petals and sepals
with colored lip), yellow, pink, red, green and lavender, and with flower markings like stripes,
spots and blotches. There are also warm and cool growing Phalaenopsis.

General Characteristics. Butterfly orchids has very thick, short stems, and fleshy, soft
leaves. The leaves are closely clustered in a two-ranked arrangement and oval-shaped.
Inflorescence are either very short to long with drooping to rigidly erect raceme or panicle and
bears from one to very numerous and some, mostly large delicate flowers. Phalaenopsis are truly
tropical and epiphytic in nature, and they are all very sensitive to direct sun and rain.

Cultural Requirements.

Light. The plant is regarded as a shade-loving plant, thus partial shade or diffused light is
required through nets or slat-house. The leaves are easily sun-burned or scorched. The plant can
tolerate high light intensities as much as 2,000 foot-candles. The plants are ideally placed indoors

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or in an area where they will receive morning light, but shaded or protected from direct light
during noontime.

Water and Humidity. Phalaenopsis require plenty of water but needs that their leaves
and crown be kept dry between watering. Phalaenopsis need plastic roofing or protection from
too much rain when grown outdoors during the rainy season. Younger plants require more
watering than matured plants. This can be accomplished by misting the plants instead of water
sprinkling. Water all matured plants twice per day during very hot and dry months, and only 2-3
times per week during wet months (or none at all). Protect plants from too much rain. For indoor
growing, plants are usually watered by immersing the whole potted plant in a bucket of water and
permitted to drip dry. The crown needs to be kept dry. Companion plants like ferns, bromeliads,
and other foliage plants can be placed near the orchid to help increase humidity. Normal humidity
levels in the home is sufficient for Phalaenopsis. However, in an air-conditioned office, humidity
levels might be less than ideal. It is also best to place your potted plant over a dish of water with
pebbles so that the pot is not directly sitting on water.

Air Movement. It is necessary to provide enough space between plants and to allow air
movement (slight breeze) to help dry the leaves. Using an electric fan to induce air movement in
indoor gardens is common.

Flowering. Matured Phalaenopsis plants will flower when exposed to the right
temperature and light photo-period. They are seasonal bloomers, usually during months of
February and September, however, they can now be artificially induced to flower.

Fertilization. Fertilize plants twice or once a week. Seedlings could be sprayed with very
dilute fertilizer everyday after watering. Plants need to be watered heavily once a week to flush
excess salts. Wet plants first before applying fertilizers. Follow fertilizer dilution for orchids based
on the label, usually at a rate of 1 tsp or less per gallon of water. Use balanced foliar fertilizer with
trace elements for orchids.

Growing Media. Phalaenopsis can be potted on clay or plastic pots, with charcoal and
coconut husks, or mounted in wooden slabs. Currently, the use of tree fern roots is being
discourage for the conservation of our endangered giant tree ferns. Pre-soaked coconut husk is
another good medium for Phalaenopsis. Another alternative medium is a 1:1 mixture of sand and
coconut choir dust. In this method, Phalaenopsis is treated like a terrestrial orchid, and irrigation
is done by placing the potted plant in a basin of water, where water comes up from the bottom up.
Phalaenopsis can also be mounted in trunks of living trees like coconut palms, Manila palms,
acacia, narra and caimito using U-nail.

Pest and Disease Control. Crown and leaves of Phalaenopsis rots easily if excessively
watered. The plant is also sensitive to spider mites infestation. Mites can be controlled by
applying miticides once a week for 4 weeks. To control crown rot, soft rot of leaves and bacterial
spot: fungicide Dithane or Captan is applied as a prophylactic during rainy season at 3 times a
week. Insecticides like Sevin or Lannate are applied when insect pests are presents. For slugs
and snails, a molluscide bait can be used.

Propagation. Phalaenopsis can be propagated asexually by keikis forming on old flower

stalks or on sides of main stem. Top cutting could be done on long drooping Phalaenopsis plants,
and after which, new plants will shoot from the remaining stem. Using lanolin paste with Benzyl
adenine (BA) on buds in flower stalk to induce keikis has given successful results. Pot keikis in
clay or plastic pots with chopped charcoal and coconut husk.

Phalaenopsis can also be propagated sexually through seeds. This can be done by
pollinating the selected orchid flower to form a capsule (fruit). However, one has to learn good
plant breeding techniques in order to produce good quality plants. The orchid fruit or capsule will
mature within 4 months. Then, mature capsules can be harvested and brought to an orchid

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laboratory, where the seeds can be sown in an artificial nutrient medium using seed culture
technology. Viable seeds germinates in a month’s time and seedlings will be ready to be
transferred to the nursery in a year’s time. Hundreds or thousands of seedlings can be produced
in these way.

PLANTLET INDUCTION IN PHALAENOPSIS

Keiki (pronounced "kay-key") is the Hawaiian word for
"baby", “anak” or "child", literally meaning "the little
one". In horticulture, it refers to a plant produced
asexually by an orchid plant, usually used when
referring to Dendrobium, Epidendrum (sensu latu), and
Phalaenopsis orchids. The baby plant is an exact
clone of the mother plant, sometimes flowering while
still attached to the mother plant.

On a Phalaenopsis, a keiki is a small plant growing

from one node along the flower stem. On a
Dendrobium, the keiki is typically found sprouting
along the length of the cane or from the end of the
cane. This is induced by the accumulation of growth
hormones at that point, either naturally, or by the
application of keiki paste.

The Hormone paste. Keiki paste is a cytokinin

hormone (usually Benyzl Adenine or Benzyl Amino
Purine) in a Lanolin mixture which induces growth in
the node of a Phalaenopsis inflorescence. It should not be confused with paste or powder
containing auxins, which are used to force the production of roots.

Nodes on Phalaenopsis spikes will form either vegetative growth (keiki) or floral growth (a branch
with flower buds). If the node tissue is already differentiated so that it will become a floral branch,
there is no way to change the result. The trick is to get the paste onto the node before it is
differentiated. However, there is no way to predict if an undifferentiated node will become a keiki
or a floral branch.

Removing Keikis. If a new plant is desired, the keiki should be left on the mother plant until it
develops a healthy root system and have two or three leaves(for a Phalaenopsis) or canes
(Dendrobium). At this point, it can be carefully removed with a sharp knife and planted in its own
pot. Keikis are cut below and above the stem, leaving a small piece of stem on the baby plant.

A separated keiki can be expected to flower in approximately the same amount of time it would
take for the cross or species to flower from a seedling. Some species orchids like Phal pulchra
keiki frequently and flower while still attached to the mother plant.

The Urban Gardener is an official electronic publication (in PDF Format) of the Plant
Biotechnology Project, Research & Development Center, Rizal Technological University, Boni
Avenue, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. It is published monthly. For more information, please
inquire thru email: rdc_rtu@yahoo.com or plantbiotech_rtu@yahoo.com and landline
(+632) 534-8267 Local 135 or Fax (+632) 534-9710.

The Plant Biotechnology Project Committee is composed of: Alexander B. Quilang,

Norberto R. Bautista, Jovita A. Anit & Carnette C. Pulma.