Orchids are without question one of the most beautiful and popular houseplants. Thanks to breeding, the classics Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, Dendrobium and Co. have also become significantly easier to care for than their “real” relatives from the rainforest. But there are also species that remain demanding in their care and, in addition to the Vanda, these include the so-called monkey orchid (Dracula monkey), which owes its name to its extraordinary appearance.
The interesting monkey orchid has these properties
We probably don't need to describe the look of the flowers in more detail, as you can see them in the pictures. Overall, their shape is reminiscent of a monkey's head, including its eyes, nose and mouth. They can differ in shape and color, which depends on the species, as the genus includes a total of 120 species, although not all of them look like monkey faces. Some flowers emit a pleasant scent that is reminiscent of oranges - a characteristic that is rather untypical for most orchids.
A few of the variants with the typical monkey look are:
- Dracula's love
- Dracula bella
- Dracula Benedicti
- Dracula chimaera
- Dracula erythrochaete
- Dracula gigas
- Dracula is unequaled
- Dracula lotax
- Dracula of the saddle
- Dracula monkey
- Dracula tsubotae
How to care for the monkey face flower
The flower thrives in rainforest areas, but also at higher altitudes, i.e. mountain areas. Therefore, unlike most of her relatives, she likes it rather cool, which is probably the biggest challenge in keeping her at home. The temperature should be between 12 and 18 degrees. Like the Phalaenopsis and Co. we are more familiar with, it needs high humidity, at least 60 percent, but not more than 80. Direct sunlight should be avoided at all costs, as the flower cannot tolerate it at all. Nevertheless, it should be very bright. A spot by the screened east window, for example, is well suited.
In the wild, the monkey orchid grows directly on trees. So you could offer the flower similar conditions (without earth), like Wanda. Or you can use the usual substrate made of bark that is sufficiently permeable. When watering (dipping), care should be taken to ensure that the excess water is then removed to avoid waterlogging. Use lime-free water, for example rainwater.
Dracula amaliae 'Angel' with a subtle monkey face
Dracula bella with pink dot pattern
Dracula gigas with a very authentic monkey head shape
Dracula inaequalis has cup-like flowers
Dracula lotax as a houseplant
Dracula lotax has pink accents in the almost white flower
Dracula tsubotae in brown and yellow
The species Yolanda Kakabadse with yellow-brown flowers
