Thulin's fish-mouth orchid Plant Care
Ichthyostoma thulinii Hedrén & Vollesen
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
With its striking silver-green rosette of fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves, this plant originally hails from the high altitudes of the Andes mountains in South America. Its unique appearance and rarity in cultivation make it highly sought after by plant collectors looking to add a touch of exotic beauty to their collections.
Every 7–10 days
Bright indirect light
65–80°F
50–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Thulin's fish-mouth orchid?
Water Thulin's fish-mouth orchid every 7–10 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it bright indirect light. It prefers temperatures of 65–80°F (18–27°C) and 50–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Thulin's fish-mouth orchid?
Thulin's fish-mouth orchid (Ichthyostoma thulinii) belongs to the Acanthaceae family within the Ichthyostoma genus. Thulin's fish-mouth orchid is native to southeastern Ethiopia and south-central Somalia.
Thulin's fish-mouth orchid displays a compact, spreading perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 2 ft. Thulin's fish-mouth orchid produces showy tubular flowers in various colors.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Thulin's fish-mouth orchid?
Ichthyostoma thulinii requires watering every 7–10 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–10 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Thulin's fish-mouth orchid Need?
Thulin's fish-mouth orchid thrives in bright indirect light. Avoid placing Thulin's fish-mouth orchid in direct, harsh sunlight for extended periods, as this can scorch the foliage.
Light Requirement
Bright indirect light
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Thulin's fish-mouth orchid Prefer?
Ichthyostoma thulinii grows best at temperatures of 65–80°F. Thulin's fish-mouth orchid prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
65–80°F
Humidity
50–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Thulin's fish-mouth orchid?
Well-draining, rich loamy soil with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Thulin's fish-mouth orchid to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Thulin's fish-mouth orchid?
Feed Thulin's fish-mouth orchid every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Thulin's fish-mouth orchid?
Repot every 1-2 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Thulin's fish-mouth orchid?
Thulin's fish-mouth orchid can be propagated through stem cuttings, division.
Is the Thulin's fish-mouth orchid Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Thulin's fish-mouth orchid, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Thulin's fish-mouth orchid?
Thulin's fish-mouth orchid is susceptible to spider mites, aphids, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Thulin's fish-mouth orchid Need?
Thulin's fish-mouth orchid grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Thulin's fish-mouth orchid is native to southeastern Ethiopia and south-central Somalia. In cooler regions, grow Thulin's fish-mouth orchid as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Thulin's fish-mouth orchid is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Ichthyostoma genus — compare its care with other Ichthyostoma species on PlantoScan.
Ichthyostoma is part of the Acanthaceae plant family — browse all Acanthaceae genera and species.
Thulin's fish-mouth orchid thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Ichthyostoma thulinii Hedrén & Vollesen, family Acanthaceae (first published in Nordic J. Bot. 16: 441 (1996 publ. 1997)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Thulin's fish-mouth orchid, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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