A botanical species of the genus Phalaenopsis, it was discovered by Reverend C.S. Parish during his travels in Myanmar, specifically in the area of the city of Moulmein. Later, it entered the horticultural trade through imports made by the company Low and Co. in 1861, and was described by Heinrich Gustav Reichenbach in 1862 and dedicated to the horticulturist Hugh Low, who also served as colonial administrator in Labuan, Borneo.
Native to Borneo and the surroundings of the city of Moulmein, in the Tenasserim mountain area, in the delta of the Gyne, Salween, and Ataran rivers, it prefers substrates formed from limestone rocks, from sea level up to 800 m altitude, with strong morning light but shaded in the afternoon. It can also occupy epiphytic stations on the branches of shrubs on rocky walls.
A distinctive feature of this species is the periodic shedding of leaves. The leaves, 5 – 10 cm long, fleshy, obovate to oblong elliptic, acute or obtuse, with an imbricated base, are inserted on the erect, ascending stem and have a light green coloration with purplish spots on the ventral side. Flowering occurs from summer to autumn, on lateral stems, arching or pendent, 25 – 35 cm long, racemose or loosely paniculate, with many flowers, sparsely arranged with large spaces between them, protected by small triangular bracts. The flowers are fragrant, very persistent, and feature a particularly long rostrum in the form of a beak. The flower diameter is 4 – 5 cm, impressive due to the star shape and delicate texture. The outer petals and the two broad ascending petals have a white background with shades of pink to purple at the base, blending in a gradient towards the marginal area with the background color. The labellum is intensely violet and has yellow spotting.
The species prefers low lighting, 10000 – 15000 lux, and shaded locations during the afternoon. Being a thermophilic species, temperatures of 28 – 32 ℃ during the day and 24 ℃ at night will be ensured in summer, but attention will be given to increasing the temperature to 31 - 35 ℃ during the day and 19 – 23 ℃ at night in the cold season. Atmospheric humidity will be high, around 80% or higher, especially during the active growth period.
The recommended substrate for this species will consist of pine bark with a diameter of 12 – 16 mm, and plastic or ceramic pots with drainage holes can be used. In Asian countries, mounting on bark, cork, or wood is preferred, but this cultivation method requires more frequent watering. Substrate replacement is usually done in spring, when new root growth can be observed.
Watering will be done weekly, keeping the substrate moist but not wet, and ensuring good ventilation. Fertilization will be frequent during the active growth period, applied weekly at each watering or every two weeks, with a dilution of 25 – 50% of the manufacturer’s recommended dosage.
Unlike most species, Phalaenopsis lowii requires a resting period, which in its natural habitat lasts about 3 – 4 months, during the cold and dry season of the year. In cultivation, however, a resting period of one month is sufficient, and under no circumstances will it be allowed to extend beyond 2 months. During this period, humidity will be reduced to 60 – 65%, watering will be stopped and replaced by occasional misting, no fertilizers will be applied, and the light radiation level will be increased. Although plants can withstand prolonged resting periods, during which leaf loss is possible, extending these periods under cultivation conditions is not recommended.
Do you want to see more articles and gain more knowledge? This article is offered for free, but you can support secretgarden.ro with a review here:
Google: Review on Google
Facebook: Review on Facebook