Dischidia nummularia (Button)

Button name, range and habitat

Button Orchid is an established common name for Dischidia nummularia. Both “Button Orchid” and the species name nummularia refer to its small coin-like leaves.

The species grows from southern China through tropical Asia and the Malay Archipelago to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and northern Queensland. It is found on trees and rock in humid forests, coastal vegetation and limestone habitats.

Care for long Button strands

• Light: Place it where the light is bright but filtered to keep the strands leafy. If moving the plant into stronger light, make the change gradually.
• Watering: Water thoroughly, let the pot drain, and let the loose mix dry well before watering again.
• Potting mix: Combine bark or coconut husk with pumice or perlite for quick drainage and plenty of air at the roots.
• Warmth: Keep Button Orchid in a warm room and protect it from cold draughts.
• Humidity and air: Moderate humidity and regular air movement suit its fine roots. Keep the long strands away from closed, stuffy corners.
• Feeding: Apply a mild houseplant fertiliser or diluted orchid feed while new strands are lengthening.
• Training: Allow the strands to fall naturally, or fasten a few loosely against cork or bark, where the stems can root along the surface and gradually form a close mat.
• Repotting: Change old mix when it packs down or becomes slow to drain.
• Propagation: Stem pieces can be rooted to make new plants.

Button Orchid problems

• Buttons look puckered and feel thin: The mix has stayed dry for too long. Water the whole pot thoroughly, let it drain and check the moisture a little sooner next time.
• Leaves become yellow or translucent: The potting mix is staying wet for too long. Let it dry and inspect the roots. If rot is present, remove it back to firm healthy tissue with a clean disinfected tool, discard the affected material and repot into fresh airy mix.
• Stems become bare between leaf pairs: The plant is receiving too little light. Shift it gradually to a brighter filtered location.
• Small sucking insects settle on the stems: Isolate the plant and check the dense inner growth. Treat with a product labelled for the identified pest, following the label directions and repeat interval.

Keep Dischidia nummularia (Button) 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.

The meaning and history of Dischidia nummularia

Dischidia combines Greek dis, meaning twice, with schizein, meaning to split, referring to the divided lobes of the staminal corona. Nummularia comes from the Latin nummulus, “small coin,” and means coin-like.

Robert Brown established the genus Dischidia in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 461.

Robert Brown first described Dischidia nummularia in 1810 in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae, page 461.