Ghost orchid.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Difícil

Tipo de planta

Orchid

Luz

Dappled shade

Luz en interior

Luz indirecta brillante

Riego

Cada 1 a 2 días

Tamaño adulto

15 to 20 centimeters

Ritmo de crecimiento

Lento

Rusticidad

USDA 10 a 11

Floración

Mid to late summer

Cuidados

This plant requires very high humidity and constant air circulation to mimic its native swamp environment. Watch for shriveling roots, which indicate the plant is not receiving enough moisture or humidity. It is best left to experienced collectors due to its specific environmental needs.

Riego

Keep the roots consistently moist through frequent misting or high humidity.

Abonado

Use a very dilute orchid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Poda

Only remove dead or damaged roots during the dormant period.

Trasplante

This plant should not be repotted as it requires a host tree or mount.

Suelo

None, grows as an epiphyte

Temperatura

15 a 30°C

Humedad

70 a 95%

Seguridad

Personas

There is no known toxicity, but it is not a food plant.

Niños

The delicate roots are easily damaged by handling, so keep this plant out of reach of children.

Comestibilidad

This plant is not edible and should never be consumed.

Cómo identificarla

• Leafless structure with green roots
• White flowers with long nectar spur
• Roots cling directly to tree bark
• Flowers appear to float in air

Altura

0,05 a 0,15m

Anchura

0,05 a 0,2m

Hojas

deciduous

Flores

white, 3 a 5cm

Frutos

brown, Autumn

Problemas frecuentes

• Root rot — Occurs when roots remain too wet without adequate airflow.

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed

Cuándo plantar

Spring

Always mimic the natural vertical layering of a swamp forest to provide the specific light and humidity levels required.

Buenas compañeras

• Ciprés calvo — This tree provides the ideal humid, shaded bark surface for the orchid to attach.
• Fraxinus caroliniana — It often shares the same swampy habitat and provides necessary dappled light.

Especies parecidas

• Polyrrhiza lindenii — This is a synonym often used in older botanical texts for the same species.

Ciencia

Familia

Orchidaceae

Género

Dendrophylax

Orden

Asparagales

Clase

Liliopsida

Distribución natural

Florida and parts of the Caribbean.

Conservación

It is listed as endangered and is protected by federal and state laws in its native range.

It survives by anchoring itself to host trees in humid swamps, absorbing moisture directly from the air.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source

Polinizadores

polillas

Usos

botanical curiosity, conservation display

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

Can I grow this at home?

It is extremely difficult to cultivate outside of specialized greenhouse conditions.

Does it need soil?

No, it is an epiphyte that grows attached to the bark of trees.

De dónde viene el nombre

The name Dendrophylax comes from Greek words meaning tree guard, while lindenii honors the Belgian explorer Jean Jules Linden.

Bueno saberlo

• It is often called the ghost orchid because it appears to float in the air.
• The plant lacks leaves entirely, performing all gas exchange through its roots.
• It was famously featured in the book The Orchid Thief.
• The flowers are pollinated exclusively by the giant sphinx moth.

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• Plantas para sombra