Moth orchid
Phalaenopsis species
Also called Phalaenopsis and Orchid
Houseplant · FloweringRoots want air, not soil. Silver roots mean thirsty; green ones mean leave it alone.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 8 daysSilver roots, then soak — read the roots — silver means thirsty, green means leave it alone.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- High
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 0.6 m tall · 0.4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Southeast Asia and Australia
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A dark, water-soaked patch at the very centre of the plant, where water sat overnight between the newest two leaves.Crown rot · disease
- Buds yellow at the stalk and drop while still closed, a few days after a cold draught, a move, or ripening fruit in the room.Bud blast · disorder