About
Phalaenopsis hieroglyphica is an ornamental orchid from certain islands of the Philippines whose creamy white flowers carry crosswise markings that resemble glyphs. It has been protected under CITES Appendix II since 1975.
Care at a glance
- Pet safety
- Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA, Phalaenopsis spp.). General guidance for the genus
- People
- Not recorded.
- Light
- Low to moderate light: an east window is ideal, or a well-shaded west or south window. General guidance for the genus
- Water
- Water in the morning with tepid water and let it drain completely; about weekly for mature plants, more often in summer heat, letting the mix dry slightly between waterings. General guidance for the genus
- Humidity
- High humidity. General guidance for the genus
- Temperature
- Warm conditions. General guidance for the genus
- Soil
- Bark-based orchid mix with excellent drainage; avoid pure sphagnum, which is hard to rewet. General guidance for the genus
- Pot
- Clear plastic pots are often used because the roots photosynthesise; repot about every two years after flowering. General guidance for the genus
- Hardiness
- Frost-tender; outdoors only in USDA zones 10–12, elsewhere a houseplant or greenhouse plant. General guidance for the genus
“General guidance for the genus” marks advice sourced for the genus as a whole rather than this species.
Field notes
Morphology
Flowers are creamy white with transverse markings that look like hieroglyphs.
Distribution & habitat
Native to certain islands of the Philippines.
Cultivation notes
Growers have hybridised it to produce flowers of different shapes and colours that keep its glyph-like markings.
History & etymology
H. G. Reichenbach named it in 1887 as a variety of Phalaenopsis lueddemanniana, and H. R. Sweet raised it to species rank in 1969. The Malaysian botanist Shim later placed it in Polychilos.
Conservation
Protected under CITES Appendix II since 1975.
Habitat
- Altitude
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
- Native to
- Philippines
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- Not recorded
- Temperature
- Warm conditions.
- Humidity
- High humidity.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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