Darkened Phalaenopsis is native to Thailand to Borneo and Philippines. Usually they are found at heights of 0-457 m, in the trees near streams in shady forests. It creates a natural hybrid with Phalaenopsis sumatrana.
Phalaenopsis fuscata orchid, also called as Darkened Phalaenopsis, Phalaenopsis denisiana, Polychilos fuscata, is a species of the genus Phalaenopsis. This species was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1874.
IDENTIFY PHALAENOPSIS FUSCATA ORCHID
Darkened Phalenopsis is native to Thailand to Borneo and Philippines. Usually they are found at heights of 0-457 m, in the trees near streams in shady forests. It creates a natural hybrid with Phalaenopsis sumatrana.
This plant is a small to medium sized, hot to warm growing epiphyte with a stem enveloped completely by imbricate leaf sheaths with a few to several, spreading, deflexed, obovate-oblong, thick acute leaves. The leaves are 30 cm long, delicate texture and slightly twisted at the base.
This species flowers in the spring and summer on a lateral, to 18" (45 cm) long, racemose or paniculate, many flowered inflorescence with fragrant, waxy flowers and opening successively over a long period. The inflorescence has small bracts and 2 to 3 flowers per branch. The flowers are 3 cm in diameter and have a fleshy texture. The petals of both whorls have rounded tops and slightly bend along the side edges. They are pale yellow-green and usually have chocolate-brown spots at the base, but sometimes they can be uniformly yellow. The red lip has the shape of a goblet and protrudes forward.
It is very similar to P.kunstleri but differs mainly in the longer column.
GROW AND CARE PHALAENOPSIS FUSCATA 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 fuscata orchid needs a light level of 10000-12,000 lux. It requires a little less than other kinds of phalaenopsis. It grows well under artificial light. The north and east windows are suitable.
Temperature:
The average temperature of the summer day is 32 ° C, night 22-23 ° C, giving a daily difference of 9-10 ° C. The average temperature of the winter day is 28-30 ° C, night 22-23 ° C, giving a daily difference of 7-8 ° C.
Humidity:
Darkened Phalaenopsis needs the humidity of 85-90%. High humidity and very good air movement are especially important in the cultivation of this species. To increase the humidity, it is recommended to use an air humidifier or put the plant on wet claydite.
Substrate and growing media:
Plant grow better in a pot or basket. As a substrate, pieces of the bark of coniferous trees of the middle fraction are used with a grain size of 12-16 mm., sometimes with the addition of sphagnum.
Watering:
Plants should always be very moist. It is recommended to water with warm water at a temperature of about 21 ° C. Schedule of precipitation is wet/very wet. It is better to use clean water - distilled, osmosis passed through or just rainwater.
Fertilizer:
It is recommended that 1/4-1/2 doses of fertilizer for orchids applied every week or every 2 weeks in the growing season. Fertilizer is introduced with the second watering.
Rest period and repotting:
Although the precipitation in the natural habitat is the highest in winter and the plants must be constantly wet, it is not necessary to increase the amount of water in winter, because the cultivation temperatures are generally lower. Growing in too wet conditions can lead to diseases. Fertilization should be reduced and the light level should remain at the given low level.
Repotted every 2-3 years, when the substrate begins to decompose. It is better to do this in the period immediately after flowering. Repot should be done with caution, because the leaves are easily damaged. After repot, it is recommended that some time not to water the plant, giving it the opportunity to adapt to new conditions and heal inevitably the root injuries obtained during repot.
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