Philippine orchid

Philippine orchid Care

Medinilla magnifica

Other names: Pink Lantern Plant, Rose Grape, Showy Medinilla, Chandelier Bush, Chandelier Tree, Jungle Chandelier, Malaysian Orchid

What is the plant

Sometimes called Rose Grape, Philipinne Orchid, Pink Lantern plant or Chandelier tree, Medinilla magnifica is small evergreen shrub native to the Philippines where it is usually found growing on trees in tropical forests.

Medinilla is a tropical shrub that can grow up to 4 ft. tall. It grows like epiphytic orchids, in holes and crotches of trees. Unlike orchids, though, Medinilla does not absorb atmospheric moisture and nutrients via velamen (corky epidermis of aerial roots). Instead, the plant has large succulent green leaves, which hold onto or store moisture similar to other succulent plants. In late spring to early summer, the plant is covered by drooping clusters of delicate pink flowers that look somewhat like grapes or wisteria flowers. These flowers are what gives the plant all its folk names.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

18°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

11a - 12b

Difficulty

Hard

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
As a succulent, Medinilla does not need to be watered often, usually just thoroughly once a week. It does enjoy being misted by water often, especially in the dry winter months. If you have Medinilla as a houseplant, you may need to run a humidifier in the home during winter.
Fertilizer
After the flowering period, give Medinilla regular houseplant or orchid fertilizer.
Sunlight
Grow the plant in filtered shade to full sun, though it prefers to avoid direct afternoon sun. Be sure to keep Medinilla plants away from air ducts and drafty windows.

Disease diagnosis

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Propagation
If you're feeling especially successful with a stocky medinilla specimen, you can attempt to strike up some cuttings to increase your tropical plant collection. Cuttings root easily in a mix of damp sphagnum moss. Take a cutting with at least two leaves, but remove 2/3 of each leaf to reduce their burden on the stem. Use a powdered rooting hormone as a stem dip to encourage rooting.
Temperature
Medinilla needs a warm and humid environment to survive. It cannot tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees F. (10 C.). In fact, 63-77 degrees F. (17-25 C.) is ideal for proper Medinilla plant care.
Container
Use a container with a good drainage system.