A wonderfully fragrant Phalaenopsis species from Malaysia and Sumatra where it grows at an altitude of about 150 meters. It is a warm growing pendulous epiphyte with nice waxy flowers of light violet hues on a cream base. Some say the fragrance is a mix of bubble gum and cinnamon, but I think it smells more like Lilly of the Valley with a hint of Jasmine perhaps. I especially like the faint purple striping on the lateral sepals near the center of the flower, and the lime green tint on the tips. I grow it potted in the small intermediate vivarium, in fairly low light, high humidity and kept evenly moist. It usually blooms faithfully twice a year, late summer and early spring, and each inflorescence carry several flowers in succession. It started blooming in May and is still going strong. I do not grow many Phalaenopsis, but this is a favorite.
Phalaenopsis violacea H.Witte, Fl. Jard. 4: 129 (1861).
beauty!!
Thanks Steve! 🙂
Fantastic plant! I’m waiting on mine to open in few weeks time, although unfortunately it won’t look so flawless like yours as it had a virus on the leaves, I hope I have treated it now.
Thank you! 🙂 Sorry to hear about your plant. I did not know you could even cure a virus. Good luck with it.
Such a lovely form of the species. It’s great that this one has permanent status in your collection. This is also my favourite species of the genus not least because of its fragrance.
Salaite,
Unfortunately virus cannot be cured, and you’ll have to destroy it before the virus spreads to the other plants in your collection. Having one plant with virus is sad indeed, but having virus spread through one’s collection is tragic. If you really love your plant you can set a selfing seed pod and then sow the seeds via the dry pod method, not green pod, as the green pod method will transfer virus to seedlings.
Thanks a lot Jacob! I know, this is a lovely species. Blooms on cue every year so yes, definitely permanent status. 🙂
Sorry Salaite… I did not think you could cure a virus, I would take Jacobs advice.