Monopodial Orchid

Monopodial Orchid
A monopodial orchid grows predominantly upward. It has been stem, which produces new leaves at its tip, and it flowers from buds at the juncture of the recently matured leaves and stem.

The word “monopodial” (Latin for “single foot”) describes this type of single stem growth habit.

Vanda and phalaenopsis are examples of common monopodial orchids. Other monopodial orchids include aerides, angraecum, ascocenda, ascocentrum, ascofinetia, doritaenopsis, doritis, kagawara, neofinetia, neoaerstylis, and trudelia.

One way to tell the difference between a monopodial and a sympodial orchid is to look around the base where it emerges from the growing medium. If monopodial, there will be no new shoots or baby plants growing up, only the original stalk.

By contrast, if sympodial, one or more new shoots can be seen emerging or in various stages of growth.

In nature, both types may seem to move horizontally or vertically away from the point of origination.

In cultivation, monopodials – excepting doritaenopsis, doritis and phalaenopsis – tend to expand upward while the sympodial move horizontally.
Monopodial Orchid