Elephant's Head Orchid

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Masdevallia elephanticeps

Genus

Masdevallia

Family

Orchidaceae

Order

Asparagales

How to care for Elephant's Head Orchid

💦 Water

How often to water your Elephant's Head Orchid

Elephant's Head 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?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Elephant's Head Orchid in your home

Elephant's Head 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 Elephant's Head Orchid in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Elephant's Head Orchid

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Elephant's Head 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 Elephant's Head Orchid after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Elephant's Head 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.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Elephant's Head 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.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Elephant's Head Orchid can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🍂 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 Elephant's Head 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.