Angraecum Leonis

If you’re looking for an orchid that combines striking looks with an incredible scent, you’ve found it. The Angraecum leonis is a exotic and fragrant orchid that deserves a spot in any collection. Its star-shaped white flowers and sweet evening perfume make it a true standout. This guide will help you understand how to care for this unique plant successfully.

Native to Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, this orchid grows in specific conditions. We’ll break down everything you need to know into simple steps. You’ll learn about its light, water, and humidity needs. With the right care, you can enjoy its beautiful blooms year after year.

This orchid is known for its compact, monopodial growth habit. That means it grows from a single stem. Its thick, leathery leaves are arranged in a fan shape. The roots are thick and silvery, typical of many vandaceous orchids. They love to cling to bark or hang freely in the air.

What Makes It Special?

The flowers are the main event. They are pure white, waxy, and shaped like a star. Each bloom has a long, greenish spur at the back that can hold nectar. The most captivating feature is its fragrance. The scent intensifies at night, designed to attract moth pollinators. It fills a room with a sweet, citrusy aroma.

Flower Size: Blooms can reach 2 to 3 inches across.
Bloom Time: Typically flowers in late fall or winter.
Plant Size: Remains relatively small, perfect for windowsills.

Ideal Growing Environment

Recreating its natural habitat is key to success. In the wild, it experiences warm days and cooler nights. It also gets lots of bright, filtered light and constant air movement. Your goal is to mimic these conditions as closely as possible inside your home.

Light Requirements

This orchid needs bright, indirect light to thrive. Direct midday sun can scorch its leaves, causing permanent damage. An east-facing window is often perfect. A south or west window is good too, but you might need a sheer curtain to diffuse the light.

Sign of good light: Leaves are a medium green color.
Sign of too much light: Leaves turn yellowish or develop brown spots.
Sign of too little light: Leaves become very dark green and growth slows.

Temperature and Humidity

Temperature and humidity go hand in hand. This plant prefers intermediate to warm conditions. A drop in temperature at night can actually help initiate flower spikes.

Daytime: Aim for 70-80°F (21-27°C).
Nighttime: A drop to 60-65°F (15-18°C) is beneficial.
Humidity: This is crucial. Try to maintain 60-70% humidity.

To increase humidity, you can use a humidifier. Placing the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water also works well. Just make sure the pot isn’t sitting directly in the water. Good air flow around the roots and leaves prevents rot and disease.

Planting and Potting Media

Angraecum leonis is often happiest mounted on cork or tree fern plaques. This allows its roots to dry quickly between waterings, which they prefer. If you choose to pot it, use a very open and fast-draining mix.

Here are common potting options:

Mounted: On cork bark with a small pad of sphagnum moss at the base.
Potting Mix: A chunky blend of large fir bark, charcoal, and perlite.
Slatted Baskets: These allow for maximum air flow around the roots.

Repot only when absolutely necessary, as the plant dislikes root disturbance. Spring, after flowering, is the best time. Be gentle with the fragile roots during the process.

Watering and Feeding Schedule

Watering is where many new growers face challenges. The roots need to dry almost completely between waterings. But the plant also enjoys high humidity, which can seem confusing.

For Mounted Plants: Mist or soak the roots daily in the morning during warm weather. In cooler months, you can reduce to every other day.
For Potted Plants: Water thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes. Then, wait until the medium is nearly dry before watering again.

Always use lukewarm water. Rainwater or distilled water is best to avoid mineral buildup on the leaves and roots. Fertilizing is simple. Use a balanced orchid fertilizer (like 20-20-20) at half strength. Apply it every other week during the active growing season (spring and summer). Reduce to once a month in fall and winter.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even with great care, issues can arise. Here’s how to identify and fix common problems.

Yellowing Leaves

This can have a few causes. Overwatering is the most common culprit, leading to root rot. Check the roots. Healthy roots are firm and silvery-green when dry, turning green when wet. Rotted roots are brown, mushy, and may smell bad. Other causes include too much direct sun or a severe lack of nutrients.

No Flowers

If your plant is healthy but won’t bloom, check these three factors:

Light: It probably needs more bright, indirect light.
Night Temperature: Ensure it gets that cooler drop at night.
Fertilizer: You might be using a formula with to much nitrogen, which promotes leaves over flowers.

Pests

Watch out for scale insects and mealybugs. They can hide at the base of leaves. Treat them early by wiping them off with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. A gentle insecticidal soap spray can also be effective for more severe infestations.

Propagation Tips

Propagating Angraecum leonis at home is challenging but not impossible. It is typically done by removing keikis (baby plants). These sometimes form on the flower spike after blooming. Wait until the keiki has several roots that are at least 2-3 inches long. Then, you can carefully cut it off and pot or mount it on its own. It requires patience, as this plant can be slow to produce offsets.

FAQ

How often does Angraecum leonis bloom?
With proper care, it can bloom once a year, usually in the winter months. Mature, happy plants may sometimes produce a second, smaller flush of flowers.

Is the Angraecum leonis orchid difficult to grow?
It has specific needs, especially regarding humidity and watering. If you can meet those, it is a rewarding and not overly difficult orchid to grow. Beginners might want to start with a more forgiving type first.

Why are the leaf tips turning brown?
Brown leaf tips are often a sign of low humidity or a buildup of salts from tap water or fertilizer. Try increasing the local humidity and switch to watering with rainwater if you can.

Can I grow this orchid in a terrarium?
Yes, a terrarium or orchidarium can provide the perfect high-humidity environment. Just ensure there is excellent air circulation inside to prevent fungal issues, which can be a problem in enclosed spaces.

How long do the flowers last?
Each individual bloom can last several weeks on the plant. The entire flowering period can extend over a month or more, especially if the plant produces multiple flowers in sequence.