How to Grow and Care for Calanthe Orchids

How to Grow and Care for Calanthe Orchids Calanthe spp.

Never was there such an aptly named plant. The genus name Calanthe combines “kalos,” which is Greek for beautiful, and “anthe,” which is Greek for flower.

Sometimes known as Christmas orchids, species in this genus are adaptable, elegant, and colorful, with some hardy enough to withstand temperatures at or even below freezing!

They make excellent houseplants, like many orchids, but they can also be used in landscaping in Zones 6 and up.

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I understand why Phalaenopsis orchids are so popular as houseplants, but I’m baffled as to why more people aren’t enjoying Calanthe orchids in their homes and yards.

They’re long-blooming, and some are hardier than your more common species. But they’re every bit as beautiful as moth orchids.

Interested in these glorious plants? We’ll help you master the growing process. Here’s what we’ll go over to make that happen:

Because they generally grow in the earth rather than attached to trees and rocks, Calanthe species have some unique characteristics and growing requirements.

Before we talk about those, let’s understand a bit more about what sets these plants apart.

What Are Calanthe Orchids?

Calanthe orchids (ka-LAN-thee) are those in the Calanthe genus, which comprises about 200 species.

They are mostly terrestrial plants that come in two types, defined by the subgenera Eucalanthe and Preptanthe.

Eucalanthe species are evergreen with a basal rosette of leaves and no pseudobulbs, with a flower stem that emerges from the center of the leaves. They grow in tropical to temperate areas.

Preptanthe plants are deciduous and lose their leaves in the cold winter of their preferred environments. The flower stalks form from pseudobulbs that are typically gray-green.

Evergreens include C. alismifolia, C. sylvatica, and C. triplicata, and deciduous species include C. hirsute, C. rosea, and C. vestita

You can’t breed the two different subgenera, which is one reason that botanists are considering separating the two into their own genera.

The difference is important because it