Phalaenopsis violacea with blue flower form |
Phalaenopsis violacea var. coerulea
In their native habitat which ranges from the Malaysia, Borneo, Indonesia and Sumatra at 150 m low altitude, Phalaenopsis violacea can be found growing as an warm loving epiphyte in shady and high humidity condition.
Different flower color forms exist, such as variety 'Malayan', 'Blue', 'Alba' and 'Sumatra' as this orchid species have a widespread geographical distribution.
Since July 2010, I have been growing this young orchid at my kitchen yard that faces southwest direction. It receives about 3-4 hours of filtered morning light next to my kitchen window. I have retained the orchid in their original plastic pot with loosely packed moss as medium, to minimize disruption and shock to plant.
The orchid is drenched thoroughly only once a week, as the moss is capable to retain moisture and to minimize the chance of rot. So far the plant had produced a new leaf and put up a fresh new flower spike under this condition. The photo above shows the plant's 1st flowering under my care, since my acquisition from Ching Hua Orchids (Taiwan Nursery).
The size of the 1st flower is about 3cm (wide) x 4cm (height).
The size of the 1st flower is about 3cm (wide) x 4cm (height).