Plant Care Leopard Orchid

Leopard Orchid

Also known as

African Ansellia, Monkey Sugarcane, Mopane Orchid and Tree Orchid

Taxonomy

Ansellia africana
Ansellia
Orchidaceae
Asparagales

How to care for Leopard Orchid

💦 Water

How often to water your Leopard Orchid

Water needs for Leopard Orchid
0.5 cups
every 7

Leopard Orchid needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Leopard Orchid in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Leopard Orchid: 3ft from a window
3ft or less from
a window

Leopard Orchid may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Leopard Orchid in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Leopard Orchid

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Leopard Orchid: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Leopard Orchid after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Leopard Orchid can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!


💦 Water Needs

Leopard Orchid is sensitive to dry soil and should be watered frequently. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Leopard Orchid Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Leopard Orchid may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Leopard Orchid is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


💨 Humidity

Leopard Orchid prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.


🪴 Soil

Leopard Orchid is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.


💩 Fertilizer

Leopard Orchid should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Leopard Orchid grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Leopard Orchid can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Leopard Orchid can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant retiring old leaves.

If it seems like there’s a problem, the most likely cause of yellow leaves in Leopard Orchid is underwatering. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Yellow leaves can less often be caused by overwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Give your plant a good drink and it should perk back up and download Greg to make sure your plant never goes thirsty again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Leopard Orchid

Leopard Orchid


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 7 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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