Prosthechea cochleata

RHS Plant Profile

clamshell orchid

RHS

Other common names

cockle orchid

Synonyms

Encyclia cochleata

Houseplants Conservatory Greenhouse

A species orchid to 45cm tall with flattened pear-shaped pseudobulbs bearing lance-shaped leaves 20-35cm long and long-lasting, ribbon-like flowers with pale-green petals and dark-purple lips, flushed yellowish-green, with white bases deeply-veined purple to 8cm long, borne intermittently over a long period

Position

Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1B

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Prosthechea are epiphytic orchids with narrowly elongated pseudobulbs with 1-5 narrow strap-shaped, leathery leaves. Fragrant flowers in winter are borne in racemes from tips of pseudobulbs
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S Florida, Caribbean, Mexico to N South America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in an open epiphytic compost with bright filtered light, and when in active growth during spring and summer, water sparingly but regularly and apply orchid fertiliser at every third or fourth watering; keep dry in winter

Propagation

Propagate by division when plants overfill the container

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Sub-tropical

Pruning

No pruning required; remove spent flowers as necessary

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free