Zygopetalum spp. - Hybrid Zygo Orchid
Sprouts of BristolZygopetalum Orchids - or Zygo Orchids for short - have striking green-and-purple flowers that really stand out in any collection, bringing the aesthetic of the tropical jungle into your home. Different species and varieties are marked out by slight differences in their flowers, so once your orchid blooms, you may be able to tell which specific plant you have! The scented blooms tend to last for several weeks with the right care, so you'll be able to enjoy these flowers for a while once they bloom. This listing is for those we have received whose flowers are still budding, so we can't always tell the exact cultivar. To keep it happy, keep this orchid in above-average humidity and bright, indirect light - and it will reward you with its funky flowers and verdant foliage.
Important Note We try to identify the species of these orchids but please note that we are doing this by eye and comparing the plants we have in the shop to photos online. This listing is for plants whose species we have not been able to identify, usually when they have arrived to us in bud. The orchids might arrive with the flowers open or closed.
Scientific Name
Zygopetalum spp. (yoked-petal plant, species unknown)
This Genus name was first published in 1827. Many species and hybrids in this genus have been grown as houseplants; we aren't sure which this is as it arrived to us with its flowers shut!
Common Name
Zygopetalum Orchid, Zygo Orchid, Purple Orchid
Origin
Tropical rainforests of Central and South America, including Brazil and Peru.
Light
Prefers plenty of indirect light - out of harsh direct sun but still light enough to read a newspaper without extra lighting. When it's dormant in autumn and winter, move it to somewhere slightly brighter to get a bit of morning sun. Avoid any stronger midday sun as this will scorch the leaves.
Water
Keep the medium consistently moist but not soggy. Water thoroughly when the top third of the substrate starts to dry, or when it feels light when you lift the pot. Reduce watering in autumn and winter when the plant will not be growing. Avoid using cold water, which can shock the plant.
Humidity
Thrives in high humidity, ideally between 50-70%. Using a pebble tray can help maintain the needed humidity, especially during dry months. Avoid misting directly on blooms.
Soil
Requires a well-draining, airy medium, such as an Orchid mix, or one made with bark and perlite. Repot every 3-4 years as the plant grows; repotting at this frequency will mean it stays a little potbound and is more likely to flower.
Food
Feed every month during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble orchid fertiliser. You can supplement this with a foliar feed (one designed to be sprayed straight onto orchid leaves) to give it a boost in Spring, too. Reduce feeding to every six weeks in autumn and winter.
Temperature
Ideal temperatures range between 15-24°C during the day and 12-16°C at night. This orchid can tolerate slight temperature drops at night, which may encourage blooming.
Pet-Safe
Yes; Zygo Orchids are considered non-toxic, though it won't be great for the plant or your furry friend if they eat the whole lot!
Sprouts Top Tips
Zygopetalum orchids benefit from cooler night temperatures, which help trigger blooms. Monitor for common orchid issues like leaf spots (indicating high humidity with poor airflow) or yellowing leaves (if this is paired with soggy soil or squishy stems, it may be overwatering leading to root rot).
Important Information
If you have any questions, please check out the below or get in touch via our contact formWe're devoted to sending our customers quality plants with the best service around. Every plant is backed by our 7-day guarantee, so they arrive in good health.
Our team takes extra steps when prepping plants for transportation, but they're still sensitive to changes, so there may be minor cosmetic issues. We always aim to photograph and disclose any flaws before shipping, but a living creature travelling across the country in a box can take a hot minute to adjust to its new life.
If you have any issues within 7 days of receiving your order, holler at our customer support team on our contact form with your order details and some pics of the issue. After the guarantee has expired, though, we can't refund as we can't guarantee care and environmental factors. If you repot the plant during the 7 days, the guarantee is void.
We have been sending plants up and down the country for many year now and we like to think we have our way down to an art.
We protect the plant from falling out of the soil with tissue paper and tape if needed, then we wrap the plant in corrugated cardboard, and sometimes we protect the leaves with extra tissue paper if required. This is then placed into a box and if there is any empty space, we fill this with void fill to stop the plants moving around inside the box. Sometimes we will write a note on your packing slip to water the plant on arrival, so please look out for this. This is due a freshly watered plant going in a box will not only be soggy, but as the plant is in darkness this can sometimes make the plant unhappy when just freshly watered.
If your plant arrives to you unhappy, please send us a photo of the plant and packaging if relevant straight away, so we can advise you.
Online orders are packed and dispatched within a few days. Usually depending on volumes, we aim to get your order dispatched within 1 working day. We have collections from Royal Mail 6 days a week so deliveries tend to be speedy.
Our standard parcel delivery service is £4.99 for Royal Mail Tracked48, you can upgrade to Tracked24 for £2.50.
We do offer a Tracked48 Large Letter option for £2.99, and Tracked24 for £1 extra, but this only applies to products less than 2.5cm thick.
*Deliveries 7 days a week only included Tracked24 parcels.
Link to your shipping policy
We get a lot of boxes, packaging and whatnot at Sprouts from all our various supplier's deliveries. We re-use this packaging material where possible, plus we take in donations from local businesses and customers to our shop to avoid excess packaging going to landfill. Sometimes your delivery might look a little different, or come in a branded box from another company, but rest assured the items inside are carefully packed with love and attention inside. We use paper tape and all our branded materials included are fully recyclable. Sometimes we use polystyrene, bubble wrap or plastic wrap in the packaging, all these items are not new and where possible, please use them again.
We have partnered with Zedify to offer low-carbon deliveries in Central Bristol for £6.99.
Zedify collect and deliver orders from us Monday - Friday and will usually deliver your order the same day its collected. If you place your order before 11am, we will aim to get it collected the same day but this isnt always possible. When you have received your dispatch email, Zedify should be delivering your order the same day, anytime before 6pm.
We cannot give an idea of time, but if you would prefer delivery on a certain date (Monday - Friday) please get in touch or leave a note at check out with your preferred delivery date and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Zedify deliver to the following postcodes BS1, BS2, BS3, BS4, BS5, BS6, BS7, BS8 (1, 2, 3A - 3N, 4), BS9 (1,3,4).
Select click and collect at checkout to collect your order from our Bristol shop.
You will get an email when your order is ready to collect, where possible please come and collect your order the same day as we have limited space. If you are going to collect your order at a later date, please let us know in the message box at check out so we know when to expect you. Some items such as gift sets, kits and pre-order items may not be ready to collect the same day, again please let us know what day you would like to collect and we will let you know if there's any issues.
We do not offer free returns, but if you are unhappy with your delivery, please get in touch. If your parcel or order has been damaged, please take photos and send these over to our team so we can look into this for you.
If you have ordered an item and you would like to exchange it, we should be able to do this for you. There may be an extra charge for delivery, but get in touch to discuss. For plants there is a 7 day return policy and 30 days for everything else, apart from sale items which are none returnable.
You can return or exchange in our Bristol shop for free.
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