Spathoglottis unguiculata
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Spathoglottis unguiculata

Clawed spathoglottis · Purple orchid

Tier 2 Difficulty: hard Water: high Light: partial_sun
Water every
3 days
Temperature
20–35 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 9–10
Click count
43
Observations
59

Description

Source: leafsnap

Spathoglottis, commonly known as purple orchids or 苞舌兰属 (bao she lan shu) is a genus of about fifty species of orchids in the family Orchidaceae. They are evergreen terrestrial herbs with crowded pseudobulbs, a small number of leaves and medium-sized resupinate flowers on an upright flowering stem. The sepals and petals are all similar to each other and are white, yellow, pink or purple. Species of Spathoglottis are found from eastern and south-eastern Asia to Australia and some Pacific Islands.

Care Guide

💧 Water 1 to 2 times a week

They should be kept moist, especially during the growing season. Water your Spathoglottis Orchids when you notice that the top-most layer of the soil is dry. However, make sure not to overwater to avoid root rot.

Suggested frequency: 1 to 2 times a week
☀️ Light Partial sun

Yellow ebine is native to habitats like forest understories and rocky areas, where it grows in natural shade. It prefers partial sun but can tolerate both full sun and full shade, demonstrating its versatile and hardy nature.

Ideal: Partial sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–35°C

Yellow ebine adapts well to temperature, able to withstand higher heat and wide temperature swings. During hot periods, attention should be paid to watering and providing some shade to avoid sunburn. However, Yellow ebine is relatively sensitive to low temperatures: it can tolerate mild cold, but very cold conditions can cause frost damage.

Ideal temperature: 20–35°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

The best time to fertilize a Yellow ebine is in early spring, as it comes out of dormancy and starts active growth. Fertilizing supplies essential nutrients needed for healthy development. Although Yellow ebine has fairly low fertilizer requirements, an annual feeding can improve its survival and encourage stronger, longer-lasting blooms.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

Pruning isn’t necessary but you have to make sure that older yellowed or browned leaves are pruned away promptly to prevent disease and pest infestations.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Ground Orchids are considered generally safe and non-toxic. These blooms are ideal for adding visual interest to any household, whether indoors or outdoors, or with children and pets.

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Spathoglottis
Family
Orchidaceae
Hardiness Zone
9-10
Mature Height
76 cm
Mature Spread
49 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Type
Semi-evergreen
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red
Flower Size
2.03 cm to 3.05 cm
Bloom Time
Mid spring, Late spring
Planting Time
Spring, Autumn
Harvest Time
Early summer, Mid summer

Tags (5)

Common Names (2)

en Clawed spathoglottis
en Purple orchid