"Gea Jones" wrote in message ...
It says on the label a Butterfly Orchid,
with quite a lot of information, but maybe not enough

Butterfly Orchid, that's Oncidium papilio (do a search for a picture) to be
correct and I doubt very much if that's what you have bought as it's rather
rare and none too easy to grow which therefore makes it a specialist plant.
More likely a Moth Orchid, which is a Phalaenopsis, (again do a search for a
picture) and probably a hybrid. Give it good light (if it gets too much the
leathery leaves will go dark red but still not a problem) but avoid direct
sun through glass in the summer as it will scorch the leaves. Normal living
room temperature is OK but care they don't get too cold at night if on a
windowsill. Water with rainwater at room temperature, after watering let the
compost almost dry before watering again and never let the thick grey roots
stay wet. Feed with half strength feed every few waterings but ensure you
also flush the compost through with pure water every few waterings to ensure
no build-up of salts. Only repot when the existing compost starts to
deteriorate, let the roots wander outside the pot if they want to but take
care they don't cling onto something they shouldn't, they won't come off
without tearing.
They are epiphytes and live high up under the tree canopy in tropical
rainforests attached to tree branches by those thick clinging roots so they
only get water when it rains, only get food when bird droppings etc get
washed to the roots, and never stay wet for long.

When the spike finishes flowering don't cut it off unless it turns brown and
dies. It will flower again from the same spike or if you are very lucky you
will get another plant growing on it.

--
Regards
Bob

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