Light
Low indirect • approx. 1,000–5,000 lux



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Quick Care Guide
Light
Low indirect • approx. 1,000–5,000 lux
Watering
Water when ~20–35% dry
Substrate
Moisture-retentive + airy • Steady-moist • Organic-forward • Fine
Temperature
Ideal: 16–25 °C • Avoid below: 16 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Creeping terrestrial orchid.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Slow
Max size indoors
Max. height: 10 cm • Max. spread: 10 cm
Toxicity & safety
Non-toxic
Origin & habitat
Native from Yunnan to northern Thailand
Outdoor growing
Indoor only
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
Near-black velvet foliage gives Anoectochilus lylei its dark base, while fine pink-gold lines cross the leaves in a narrow reticulate pattern. The small leaves stay close to the substrate, with the detail concentrated near the top of the pot.
It grows as a low terrestrial orchid, spreading slowly from a creeping rhizome. A humid, shaded indoor setup keeps the foliage close, dark and softly textured, while an airy substrate protects the fine roots from staying wet for too long.
Anoectochilus lylei is an accepted species recorded from Yunnan to northern Thailand. It grows as a small forest-floor orchid with creeping rhizomes and fine roots near the substrate surface.
The dark leaves and fine linework stay cleanest in gentle light. Strong light can mark the leaf surface, while very dry air can interrupt smooth leaf expansion.
Anoectochilus lylei is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. Its leaves and shallow root zone are delicate, so keep it out of reach of pets that paw at small pots.
Anoectochilus lylei Rolfe ex Downie is an accepted Orchidaceae species first published in Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Gardens, Kew 1925: 411. The genus name comes from Greek roots meaning “open” and “lip”, a reference to the flower’s labellum, while the species is recognised in cultivation by its dark leaves and fine yellow-pink to pink-gold reticulation.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.