The Lovely Phalaenopsis is native to northern Australia, Indonesia, Papua & New Guinea, the Philippines and New Britain. In this vast area, at elevations up to 600 meters, plants can be found growing high on trees, or on branches of trees sometimes so close to the ocean that they are sprayed with saline water.
Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid, also called The Lovely Phalaenopsis, Epidendrum amabile, Cymbidium amabile, Synadena amabilis, Phalaenopsis grandiflora, Phalaenopsis grandiflora var. aurea, Phalaenopsis amabilis var. aurea, Phalaenopsis gloriosa, is a species of the genus Phalaenopsis. This is the national Flower of Indonesia. This species was described by Karl Ludwig Blume in 1825.
This Phalaenopsis species has some varieties such as: Phalaenopsis amabilis subsp. moluccana (Phalaenopsis amabilis var. cinerascens, Phalaenopsis amabilis var. moluccana, Phalaenopsis celebica), Phalaenopsis amablis subsps. rosenstromii (Rosenstrom's Phalaenopsis, Phalaenopsis amablis var papuana, Phalaenopsis amablis var rosenstromii, Phalaenopsis rosenstromii), Phalaenopsis amabilis var aurea (Phalaenopsis amabilis f. fuscata, Phalaenopsis amabilis var. fuscata, Phalaenopsis grandiflora var. aurea, Phalaenopsis grandiflora var. fuscata, Phalaenopsis grandiflora var. ruckeri).
IDENTIFY PHALAENOPSIS AMABILIS ORCHID
The Lovely Phalaenopsis is native to northern Australia, Indonesia, Papua & New Guinea, the Philippines and New Britain. In this vast area, at elevations up to 600 meters, plants can be found growing high on trees, or on branches of trees sometimes so close to the ocean that they are sprayed with saline water.
This national Flower of Indonesia is a medium sized, hot to warm growing, robust, epiphytic with a short, pendulous, robust stem enveloped by imbricating leaf bases and carrying 3 to 5 fleshy or coriaceous, arcuate, pendant, ovate-elliptic, obovate to oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse to subacute, shiny green leaves. The leaves are 10-46 cm long with purple-colored undersides. In natural habitats with a longer dry season, the leaves sometimes fall, but in the crop the plants are healthier when the leaves remain on the plant.
Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid blooms in the spring and summer on a slender, to 3' (90 cm) long, racemose or paniculate, laxly few to many flowered inflorescence that has small scarious, triangular bracts and carrying color and size variable, fragrant, showy, long-lasting flowers. The flowers are 8-9 cm in diameter, but on some specimens they can reach up to 13 cm. They have wide petals, are effective, milky white and are often colored pink on the underside. The lip cones are dotted in yellow and red.
GROW AND CARE PHALAENOPSIS AMABILIS ORCHID
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid needs a light level of 12,000-15000 lux. Plants can tolerate the morning sun, a bright filtered light throughout the year is recommended. Although in natural habitats cloudless days are rare, the level of light can be quite high, because the cloud layer can be thin. During the short-day winter months some supplementary artificial light will encourage flowering.
Temperature:
The Lovely Phalaenopsis is a thermophilic plant. In summer the average day temperature is 28-30 ° C, night 21 ° C, which gives a daily difference of 7-8 ° C. In winter the average temperature of 29-30 ° C, but nights are cooler, 19-21 ° C, which increases the daily difference to 10-11 ° C. Low night temperatures are more important in the fall and winter months to induce blooming which often takes place over several months during the spring, and early summer as the flowers are very long-lasting.
Humidity:
This species need humidity of 70-80%. Stand the plants on trays of moist pebbles and mist-spray daily and the flowers are observed mostly in winter. Plants also like strong air movement.
Substrate and growing media:
You can use osmunda, bark or peat-based mixture. For good drainage put a shallow layer of clay-pot segments in the bottom of the pot. These orchids do well in wooden or wire baskets lined with sphagnum moss.
Watering:
Although these plants can survive some drying, they grow faster and bloom better if the humidity of the substrate is kept relatively constant. Take care not to over-water the orchid, as it can develop root rot if its roots are left standing in water. It is best to water in the morning.
Fertilizer:
In the period of active growth, apply once a week or once every two weeks 1/4-1/2 of the recommended dose of fertilizer for orchids with every third or fourth watering.
Rest period and repotting:
In winter, watering and fertilization should be reduced for 2-3 months. Plants should not completely dry out, because the high average humidity in natural habitats indicates that moisture provides often occurring dew, fog or showers and this moisture is absorbed and stored in exceptionally long roots.
Phalaenopsis amabilis orchid needs repot every 2 years into slightly larger containers. After removing a plant from its container, clear the old potting mixture from the roots and cut away any dead roots before repotting the plant. Plants growing in maximum-size pots should be replanted in fresh mixture once every two years. Immediately after repotting them, move the orchids into a shaded position for about three or four weeks. Repotting is best done immediately after flowering.
My plant have a huge number of aerial roots. Is this normal. Thankyou.
ReplyDeleteIf their air roots are firm and white, they are healthy. You don’t need to do anything at all. This is normal behavior.
DeleteThere’s also the chance your plant is outgrowing your pot.
My orchids leaves are turning yellow and leathery with few black spots on the crown part. It has very few roots remaining now. Please help. It's a very precious gift for me. I wish I could attach a picture here!
ReplyDeleteMy orchids leaves are turning yellow and leathery with few black spots on the crown part. It has very few roots remaining now. Please help. It's a very precious gift for me. I wish I could attach a picture here!
ReplyDelete