The Benefits of Butterfly Orchids

Flowers

• Butterfly orchids produce blooms that measure from 2 to 5 inches in diameter. The orchids come in a wide variety of color patterns such as spots, stripes, and solids. The flowers come in shades of pink, yellow, lavender and white. An arching stem supports the flowers in a spray like fashion along its length. Each bloom opens at 2 to 5 day intervals. Exposing the blooms to fumes from cigarettes stoves or automobiles will cause the flowers to wilt and the buds to shrivel up and die.

Flower Timing

• A benefit of the butterfly orchid is that the grower can drive it to bloom at a chosen time. If the gardener consistently maintains the room temperature at 78 degrees day and night, for approximately three to five weeks, the orchid will begin to yield flower sprays. Once the buds develop, the temperature must remain consistent, or the buds will die. The humidity must also not fluctuate, or the buds will drop from the plant.

Light

• The butterfly orchid will thrive in a home environment with remarkably little light. Place the orchid near a window that faces east or west. Keep the orchid out of the sun's direct rays. It does benefit from early morning and late-afternoon sunlight. Fluorescent lights positioned approximately 1 foot above the orchid plant will supplement light if no window exists to supply the plant with sunlight. Keep the lights on during the daytime and turn them off at night to help simulate the orchid's natural environment.

Growth Requirments

• Unlike some orchids, the butterfly orchid will grow well with a moderate humidity level of 50 to 75 percent. Placing the orchid on a tray filled with tiny, moist pebbles will help raise the humidity around the plant. During the winter months, the humidity level in a home can dip. Consider using a humidifier to bring the home's humidity up. Keep the orchid's growing medium moist but not overly wet. The plant enjoys a light misting each day, but keep the orchid's flowers dry, or their life span will shorten. The butterfly orchid also likes air movement. The Plant Biotechnology Project suggests using a small fan near the orchid to circulate the air.