Phalaenopsis orchids

Phalaenopsis is the "moth orchid", and the one almost everyone starts with. The genus is native to Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Northern Australia, where its species grow as epiphytes on tree trunks in warm, humid lowland forests. The broad, flat leaves and long-lasting flat-faced flowers are instantly recognisable; so are the arching flower spikes that can carry a dozen blooms for weeks at a time.

Commercial breeding has made Phalaenopsis the most household-tolerant of all orchids. Modern hybrids flower in typical indoor conditions, repeat on the same spike, and do not need a greenhouse. Growers keep them on east-facing windowsills with typical room temperatures and get reliable yearly blooms.

General care for the genus (species, hybrids and cultivars vary, so check with the grower for a specific plant): bright indirect light (1,000 to 1,500 footcandles), night temperatures around 18 °C, daytime up to 28 °C, relative humidity 50 to 70 percent, weekly watering when the medium approaches dry. Fine to medium fir bark suits most plants; sphagnum works in small pots.

Species like Phalaenopsis schilleriana and Phalaenopsis amabilis remain prized by collectors, and complex commercial hybrids with grex names like Little Emperor, Golden Peoker, and Brother Sara Gold dominate retail. Listings below come from the nurseries we index, most of them re-checked nightly; prices are shown in USD.