Phalaenopsis violacea - care and characteristics
Botanical species described by H. Witte in 1861, has the following valid synonyms: Phalaenopsis violacea f. coerulea, Phalaenopsis violacea f. alba, Phalaenopsis violacea subvar. white, Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba, Polychilos violacea, Stauritis violacea, Stauropsis violacea. Endemic to the islands of Andaman, Nicobar and North West Sumatra, especially along watercourses, it grows in epiphytic stands, in low positions on tree trunks, on branches and on lianas hanging above the water, in most humid tropical forests of low altitudes (100 – 150 m).
Small to medium-sized taxon, heat-loving, with pendulous growth, with a very short stem on which 3-4 elliptical leaves are inserted, up to 25 cm long, obtuse, wavy, which gradually narrows towards the base. The flowers are very fragrant, and appear in the spring. The flowering is sequential, with the flowers appearing successively, opening 2-3 times, on drooping, robust, fractiflex stems, approximately 10-12.5 cm long, with a flattened rachis, in a zig zag pattern. The flowers are small, 3.5-5 cm in diameter, fragrant and generally purple in color. Some varieties may show green shades on the edges of the tepals.
The recommended growing light for the successful cultivation of the Phalaenopsis violacea species will be in the range of 16,000 - 19,000 lux, indicating a preference for weak to moderate light. The recommended photoperiod is 12 hours/day, in the warm season.
The ideal temperature during the summer will be 25 - 29 during the day and 19 - 20 during the night, while in winter it will drop to 20 - 22 during the day and 15 - 16 at night, these values indicating the species' preference for lower temperatures than those preferred by the rest of the Phalaenopsis species.
The humidity required for the successful growth of the Phalaenopsis violacea species is 60% if you opt for pot culture and 75% if you opt for bare root cultivation (as in the Vanda species) or for mounting on bark plates.
Another culture method applicable to this species is placing it in transparent glass/plastic pots, to facilitate the monitoring of the roots and the substrate. As a culture medium, you can opt for 2-4 cm diameter conifer bark or sphagnum. In the case of mounting on wooden plates, it is necessary to place a layer of sphagnum moss between the plate and the roots of the plant.
It is recommended to water the plants as soon as the drying, even incomplete, of the substrate is noticed, carefully watching the color of the roots. When it starts to turn arginite rather than green, it is a sign that the plants will need to be watered. For specimens grown without a substrate, even daily watering will be resorted to in the warm season, taking particular care to remove the excess water accumulated in the axillary area of the leaves and in the central area of the stem, because this aspect can cause the appearance of fungal diseases . During the warm season, the plants will benefit from additional water administration, by spraying, these treatments being applied in the afternoon, to allow the plants to be watered before sunset.
Fertilization will be done every 3rd watering, using 50% of the doses indicated on the packaging. These will be administered after watering, to facilitate the absorption of nutrients and to prevent chemical burns of the roots.
A rest period is not necessary for this species, Phalaenopsis violacea being able to bloom at any time of the year, especially between May and October. It is not recommended to cut the stems after flowering, as they will tend to continue growing and rebloom over several successive seasons .
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