Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’

The Asian range of Anoectochilus roxburghii

Anoectochilus roxburghii is native from the Himalaya through southern China and Indo-China. Anoectochilus setaceus Lindl. is an illegitimate later homonym and synonym of A. roxburghii, not the distinct Javan and Sumatran A. setaceus Blume.

Growing a terrestrial jewel orchid

Temperature

Grow Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’ in steady indoor warmth and keep its moist roots away from cold surfaces and draughts. A nearby radiator dries the velvet foliage and tiny pot at different rates.

Light

Position Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’ immediately beside a north- or east-facing window, or behind a sheer curtain at a stronger exposure. It needs a consistent pool of filtered daylight, not the darkness of a closed terrarium shelf.

Watering

Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’ needs a steady moist-to-lightly-dry rhythm. Water when the upper centimetre is approaching dry, wetting the whole shallow mix and discarding all excess.

Substrate and roots

Use a small-grained, airy terrestrial mix for Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’. A blend of fine bark, chopped sphagnum, coir and perlite or pumice lets the shallow roots contact water without losing oxygen.

Humidity and airflow

A stable high humidity suits Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’ and reduces crisp edges. Ordinary household air may work for an established plant, but new leaves often show the difference.

Fertilising

Apply complete orchid nutrition to Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’ at a very low dose during visible growth. Fertilise only after watering and rinse the small root zone with plain low-mineral water at intervals.

Root, stem and leaf problems in Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’

• A strong centre vein branches into a golden-yellow network: That interwoven pattern is the defining ‘Dreamcatcher’ feature. It needs no treatment while the tissue is firm and the lines are integral to the velvety leaf.
• The gold network differs slightly between successive leaves: Minor shifts in line thickness and branching are normal as leaves size up. Judge health by firm texture and an intact pattern, not by expecting every leaf to reproduce the previous web exactly.
• The blade pales and the gold pattern looks washed out: Light is too intense. Move the orchid into softer filtered light; direct exposure does not safely strengthen the metallic effect and can leave permanent tan damage.
• Leaves become limp after the medium dries hard: Anoectochilus roots should not remain bone dry. Rehydrate the medium thoroughly, let it drain and check more often, while still allowing air through the root zone.
• A flower spike replaces the central leaf tip: The flowering shoot is terminal and will eventually hand growth to a lower node. Keep the stem stable after the spike fades instead of discarding a firm leafless section too early.

Keep Anoectochilus roxburghii ‘Dreamcatcher’ away from children and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its effects after chewing or swallowing are unclear, and plant material can still cause an upset stomach.
• Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or do not settle.

Anoectochilus roxburghii: name and meaning

Anoectochilus combines Greek anoiktos, meaning open, with cheilos, meaning lip, referring to the spreading form of the flower’s labellum. The epithet roxburghii honours the Scottish botanist William Roxburgh.

Carl Ludwig Blume established the genus Anoectochilus in 1825 in Bijdragen tot de Flora van Nederlandsch Indië, page 411.

Nathaniel Wallich first described it as Chrysobaphus roxburghii in 1826 in Tentamen Florae Napalensis, page 37. John Lindley later placed it in Anoectochilus as Anoectochilus roxburghii in 1839 in Illustrations of the Botany of the Himalayan Mountains, page 368.