How to Grow and Care for Rhynchostylis Foxtail Orchids

Rhynchostylis (rink-oh-STY-lis) is a small genus of orchids with a big name. Along with that big name, they also have a major blooming habit that puts them on the map in terms of orchids that are increasing in popularity, especially with orchid collectors. 

These beautiful, tropical orchids have some particular care needs, which can make them seem high maintenance. However, for an experienced orchid cultivator, they can be an excellent challenge with a great reward. As with most orchids, they need very little care if you can replicate something close to their natural environment. 

Replicating this orchid’s environment is trickier than some, but not impossible. Ideally, these orchids thrive best in climates similar to Vanda orchids. They like warm weather, plenty of water, high humidity, and ample air circulation. Let’s take a look at this exciting genus of orchids.

History

Rhynchostylis is a relatively new genus, by orchids standards, in terms of its history. The discovery of orchids dates back to 500 BC. This genus, however, was first recorded in the 1820s by orchid specialist and botanist Carl Blume. 

The name is derived from the Greek words for “snout” and ‘column,” but it is commonly called the foxtail orchid. The long plumes of small flowers the plant produces resemble a fluffy fox tail. 

Native Area

Rhynchostylis orchids are native to China, Thailand, Southeast India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. They can be found in these places growing in the trees of deciduous and coastal forests.

They are also commonly found on teak plantations in Java. These tropical orchids need consistently warm and humid climates to thrive. 

Characteristics

While they resemble Vanda orchids, they also have some distinct differences. For one thing, Rhynchostylis orchids produce truly spectacular floral displays, the likes of which I have never seen on a Vanda. 

Rhynchostylis orchids are monopodial epiphytes. Epiphytes are plants that grow in trees but are not parasitic. Rather, they draw moisture and nutrients from the air and rainfall. These plants don’t grow in soil. Their roots are exposed to the air, so they need very good air circulation when they are kept as houseplants. 

Monopodial orchids grow horizontally on a central rhizome. Rather than spreading and producing new pseudobulbs like sympodial orchids, monopodial orchids continuously grow vertically and produce new flower spikes between their leaves. 

The flower spikes are fabulously flamboyant and beautiful. The individual flowers, while small, are highly fragrant. They are usually white and have spots that can be magenta, purple, or blue spots. Some varieties have pure white flowers, and at least one variety has solid red flowers.

One of these plants can produce several inflorescences at a time and reach up to 15” long, each covered from end to end with dozens, if not hundreds, of sweetly scented blooms. The leaves are long, wide, and leathery, with a light-colored stripe positioned longitudinally down each leaf. 

Uses

While most orchids are almost entirely used as ornamentals, with a few having potential for culinary purposes, Rynchostylis has traditionally been used medicinally in Nepal, Sri Lanka, and India. But as it is in decline in its native range and considered endangered there, this utilization is not as common now. 

That’s not to say that these are not ornamental orchids. Rhynchostylis orchids are beautiful and are gaining popularity among orchid collectors and cultivators for their spectacular floral arrays. Many botanical gardens try to propagate these orchids to ensure that they do not completely die out.

Planting

To grow these orchids outdoors year-round, you must live in a tropical climate. As a result, most gardeners grow them in hanging baskets, similar to their cousins, Vanda orchids. They are one of only a few types of orchids that can grow without any potting medium if provided with the right amount of moisture. 

How to Grow

Rhynchostylis orchids are in the moderate range in maintenance and difficulty of care. If you’ve had success with a Vanda, you should be able to handle this type of orchid as well. However, there are some differences in care that we will explore. 

Light

Light is the prevailing area where Rhynchostylis orchids differ from Vanda orchids. While Vandas prefer abundant light and can tolerate quite a lot of direct sunlight, Rhynchostylis orchids prefer their light to be indirect. 

This doesn’t mean shade or even partial shade. These orchids prefer very bright indirect light, which can be tricky to achieve. This is one of those areas that bumps this orchid out of the low-maintenance category. A sunny window with a sheer curtain or privacy film is a great place for this orchid. 

If you have a greenhouse, that is the ideal spot for this type of orchid. Just make sure to use shade cloth in the neighborhood of 40%. Because of their need for high humidity, a greenhouse will provide the right environment more easily than what you can create inside the home. 

Soil

Rhychostylis orchids do not need potting media as long as they are watered properly and have sufficient humidity. You’ve probably seen orchids growing in small baskets with their exposed roots poking through the sides and bottom of the basket. This is the preferred way to contain these orchids.

Water

As long as they are potted without any bark or other potting mix, you can water Rhynchostylis orchids daily. This is an orchid that wouldn’t mind living in the shower if there is a proper light source. 

I am guilty of watering my outdoor orchids with the hose, as they need more water than indoor orchids more often. If they are in a space with very good airflow, and you water in the morning, this won’t do any harm. If you forget and have to water late in the day, this could leave you with water pooling in the leaves, leading to crown rot. 

The best way to water your orchids is from below, immersing only the roots in water for a few minutes and then hanging up to dry. Because of the humidity these orchids need, this is a better practice than watering from above. Watering this way will help to prevent rot and fungus.

Temperature and Humidity

Rhynchostylis orchids are true tropicals. They need consistently warm temperatures and very high humidity. While Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium can tolerate 40-50% humidity, this orchid prefers humidity as high as 80%. It can be very difficult to achieve this level in the home. This is another factor that makes these orchids more complicated to care for. 

You can use a humidifier to provide your orchid with extra humidity, but in this case, a pebble tray probably will not create enough humidity to keep this one from drying out. This is another reason a greenhouse is ideal for growing your Rhynchostylis orchid. 

Keep these orchids out of the cold for sure. They shouldn’t be left outdoors if the temperature drops below 50°F, eliminating most cold-season outdoor growing. If you leave these orchids outdoors in the summer, watch the weather, or your plant will suffer from excess heat or dry conditions. 

Fertilizing

Orchids love to be fertilized. They are heavy feeders, and because they are not potted in soil that holds moisture and nutrients, they need to be fertilized often for best results. During the growing and blooming seasons, fertilize your orchid once every two weeks.

Specialty orchid fertilizers are widely available at most orchid retailers. These fertilizers are specially formulated to meet your plant’s needs. However, if you add only one orchid to your plant collection and don’t need a specialized fertilizer, you can also use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer. A 20-20-20 formula diluted to ¼ strength or a 10-10-10 fertilizer diluted to ½ strength should work just fine. 

Fertilize your orchids by diluting your fertilizer with water in a basin or sink and lowering only the plant roots into the solution. Allow the roots to soak in the solution for a few minutes to ensure absorption. Then, hang it back up and allow it to drain. 

Maintenance

Orchids do not require regular pruning. You only need to remove foliage that is dead or diseased. In the case of a monopodial orchid, you can expect the plant to shed its lowermost set of leaves once per year. This typically happens just before the plant blooms, as the plant directs nutrients toward developing flowers. 

Regarding repotting your orchid, a monopodial orchid will not need to be repotted often. Because it grows vertically, your orchid will not need its space expanded often, and in the case of orchids potted solely in baskets, you risk damaging the roots any time you remove them from the container they are in.

If your orchid does outgrow its container and appears to need more space, be very gentle about freeing the roots from the basket. Water the plant well before you begin, as this will increase the malleability of the root tissue. 

Propagation

Orchids can be propagated from seeds, but the process is long and arduous and requires a very specific and sterile environment, so home gardeners don’t commonly perform it. You can propagate through division or with keikis, which are small offsets of the parent plant that it produces independently. 

Monopodial orchids are more complicated than sympodial orchids regarding propagation by division. A sympodial orchid has pseudobulbs, each growing its own leaves and inflorescence. These pseudobulbs can be separated and repotted. This is not so for monopodial orchids.

Monopodial orchids can be divided by cutting through the rhizome vertically and potting each portion independently. This is often unsuccessful; the top portion won’t always form roots. 

That leaves keikis as the prevailing way to propagate a monopodial orchid, and fortunately, these orchids produce more keikis than sympodial orchids do. Sometimes, an orchid will produce a keiki when it is nearing the end of its life, so a keiki can be a sign of a dying orchid. 

Light stress can also encourage an orchid to produce a keiki. You can also apply hormone powder to your orchid to encourage it to produce both keikis and flowers. Keikis occur at a node along a flower stem. When a keiki grows, cut it off once it begins to form its own roots and plant it in its own container.

Common Problems

Orchids are not without their issues. As appealing as these plants are to gardeners and houseplant collectors, they are equally attractive to insects. They are also susceptible to certain diseases because of their high humidity needs. 

Insects

Pests such as thrips, aphids, spider mites, and scales are all fans of orchid leaves. These insects all like to feed on orchid’s sweet sap, draining the plant of nutrients and leaving behind a sticky mess. This mess caused by their excrement is called honeydew. 

Honeydew can attract ants with its high sugar content. However, the more serious issue is that black sooty mold likes to grow in this environment. If you notice black mold growing on your orchid leaves, wipe it away and try to get to the bottom of the infestation.

Most of these pests can be successfully treated using neem oil or insecticidal soaps. Test your treatment on a leaf before spraying the whole plant with a diluted solution. If it does not solve the issue, you may need to repeat your treatment in a week or so. However you treat the plant, isolate it so the pests do not spread to other plants. 

Root Rot

This is the number one killer of cultivated orchids. It is easy to rot an orchid’s roots and difficult to recover from. The most common cause of root rot is overwatering and poor drainage. Ensuring your plant is potted correctly and paying attention to your watering schedule will go a long way toward keeping your plant’s roots healthy.

Identifying root rot without removing your orchid from its container and examining the roots can be difficult. When yellowing reaches the leaves, it is probably too late to save the plant. Yellowing in the base of the leaves and crown of the plant indicates that the root system is not transporting water and nutrients, and the plant needs those to survive.

If you suspect root rot, repotting the plant immediately is the best course of action. Examine the roots and trim away any mushy, black portions of root. You can treat the roots with a copper-based anti-fungal, but avoid using cinnamon, as it will dehydrate the fragile roots. Repot in fresh orchid mix, or leave the roots exposed.

Popular Varieties

Cartoon

	botanical name Rhynchostylis gigantea ‘Cartoon’
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	height 12”
	hardiness zones 10-13

This spectacular variety of R. gigantea is highly fragrant and has a really fun appearance. Flowering in January, the blooms can last from two to three months.

The flower color is white with very well-defined but irregular, deep maroon splotches. The labellum is the same burgundy shade as the spots. It is a wonderful cultivar to add a splash of color to your collection. 

Peach

	botanical name Rhynchostylis gigantea ‘Peach’
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	hardiness zones 10-13

This variety boasts a shade that is unique to the genus. As the name implies, the flowers are a bold peach color that borders on orange. The color gives these fragrant blooms a well-defined appearance, complementing a large, tri-lobed labellum. 

Alba

	botanical name Rhynchostylis coelestis ‘Alba’
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	hardiness zones 10-13

R. coelestis ‘Alba’ is a stunner. What sets this variety apart is its tall, upright inflorescences. While most Rhynchostylis orchids have trailing inflorescences, this one defies gravity. The flowers are small, fragrant, and pure white on green stems. 

Pink

	botanical name Rhynchostylis retusa ‘Pink’
	sun requirements Bright indirect light
	hardiness zones 10-13

This amazing variety produces very large, trailing inflorescences that can hold up to 100 flowers each! A spring bloomer, ‘Pink’ produces flowers that have a white to pale pink foundation, with the appearance of being misted with orchid pink. The labellum of the flower is the same pink shade as the markings on the petals, 

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Rhynchostylis orchids can be particular about their environment. They need a lot of indirect sunlight and very high humidity to perform and bloom at their best. When these orchids bloom, though, they are absolutely worth the time and effort they require. These highly fragrant, extra floriferous orchids should be in every collection.