Prosthechea orchids

Prosthechea is a New World genus of around one hundred species, distributed from Florida and Mexico through Central America into South America. The genus was split out of Encyclia in a 1997 revision; many catalogues still list these plants under the older Encyclia name, or under even older Epidendrum classifications. Plants produce pseudobulbs topped with one or two tough leaves and send up flower spikes with fragrant flowers that can continue opening sequentially over weeks.

One notable feature: in many Prosthechea species the flower is non-resupinate, meaning the lip points upward rather than downward (unlike the typical orchid orientation). This gives species like Prosthechea cochleata a distinctive "upside-down" appearance.

General care for the genus (species, hybrids and cultivars vary, so check with the grower for a specific plant): intermediate to warm temperatures (nights 15 to 18 °C), bright indirect light (2,500 to 3,500 footcandles), regular watering during growth, drier in winter rest, 50 to 70 percent humidity. Medium bark in small pots, or mounts for species that prefer rapid drying.

Species include Prosthechea cochleata (the "cockleshell orchid", the national flower of Belize), Prosthechea radiata, Prosthechea vitellina, and Prosthechea fragrans. Listings below come from the nurseries we index, most of them re-checked nightly; prices are shown in USD.