Phalaenopsis violacea, a fragrant butterfly orchid
Phalaenopsis violacea
- Exposure
- Sun
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Orchids Orchidaceae
- Genus
- Butterfly orchid Phalaenopsis
- Species
- Phalaenopsis violacea
Other names:Stauritis violacea, Stauropsis violacea, Polychilos violacea
Phalaenopsis violacea thrives in dark, humid environments. This epiphytic moth orchid grows in the swamps and forests of Malaysia and Sumatra. With its delicate flowers and sweet fragrance, it is a favorite among collectors and scientists.
How can you identify the Phalaenopsis violacea orchid?
Phalaenopsis violacea is a trailing orchid. Its two-centimeter stem is hidden by leaves that overlap one another. Elliptical and oblong in shape, the leaves are up to 25 centimeters long and 12 centimeters wide. Spring-green in color, they are fleshy and wavy.
The inflorescence is short, and the rachis zigzags. The flower stalk bears between five and seven flowers. They bloom one after another in the spring and fall. Each measures three to four centimeters. They consist of three sepals with greenish, pointed tips, two elliptical petals, and a three-lobed labellum. The sepals and petals are nearly the same shape and size, giving the flower the appearance of a star.
Phalaenopsis violacea gets its name from the violet color of its flowers. The labellum is generally purplish-pink with orange tips. However, some varieties have a calyx and corolla that are pink, green, or white. In some botanical specimens, the color is uniform, while in others, the intensity varies from the center to the tip.
The Phalaenopsis violacea orchid emits a floral fragrance similar to that of water lilies or lily of the valley, enhanced by a spicy note that is a reminder of cinnamon or bergamot. Prized for its scent and the beauty of its flowers, this species has given rise to numerous Phalaenopsis hybride varieties. Purple, red, yellow… They now come in every color imaginable.
Like phalaenopsis Aphrodite or moon Orchid, this moth orchid is non-toxic upon contact or if ingested.
Our care tips
Phalaenopsis are the simplest orchids to grow. For your Phalaenopsis violacea to flourish, place the plant less than one meter from a window.
Watering
Phalaenopsis violacea are watered when the substrate is dry. To find out if it's time to water your Phalaenopsis violacea, look at its roots. As long as they're fleshy, shiny and green, you don't need to do anything. When they become pale, dull and stunted, your plant is thirsty.
Place your Phalaenopsis violacea and its pot in a slightly wide container. Fill the larger container with non-calcareous water, such as rainwater or low-calcium mineral water.
Leave your Phalaenopsis to bathe for 10 to 30 minutes. Once the roots have regained their shiny green color, drain your orchid and put it back in place.
Make sure the heart of the plant remains dry. If water has seeped into the center of the leaves, tilt your Phalaenopsis violacea to drain it, or blot it up with absorbent paper. And don't forget to drain off any stagnant water in the saucer or planter.
Misting
Your Phalaenopsis violacea is a tropical plant. It appreciates a high degree of humidity. To keep it happy, mist its foliage with non-calcareous water, such as rainwater or filtered water.
Fogging isn't just good for humidity. It also prevents pest attacks and cleans the leaves.
Repotting
The end of plant growth is a good time to repot phalaenopsis violacea.
Repotting should always be done outside of flowering periods.
Phalaenopsis violacea They like to be cramped. Repot only when the roots have filled the pot, the substrate has broken down, or the plant no longer fits in its container.
Get a clear plastic pot with drainage holes. This material has two advantages: it allows the roots to benefit from the light, and you can monitor their condition.
To repot an epiphytic plant, you don't need potting soil, but rather a substrate that allows the roots to anchor themselves. Commercially available orchid substrate, composed of bark, sphagnum moss, and other mosses, is suitable. To prepare for repotting, moisten the growing medium.
Meanwhile, remove the plant from its current pot. Unravel the roots and completely remove the old substrate. If you notice any flat, dry, or damaged roots, trim them with a pair of scissors or clean pruning shears.
Add a small amount of substrate. Place your Phalaenopsis violacea in the center of the container and add more substrate. It should reach up to the base of the stem and fill in the spaces between the roots. You can gently shake the pot to distribute the mix more evenly. Once the pot is full, lightly pack the substrate without compacting the roots.
Fertilization
Adding orchid fertilizer to watering water stimulates growth and flowering.
Cleaning
Dust accumulating on leaves slows down the photosynthesis process. To ensure that your Phalaenopsis violacea receives sufficient light, clean its foliage with a damp cloth.
This operation also prevents mites from settling in.
This operation also prevents mites from settling in.
Prune
To prevent the spread of disease and pests, always prune with a clean, disinfected tool.
After the first flowering, cut off the flowering stem above one eye where all the flowers have faded. New buds will appear.
After the second flowering, or if the stem is completely dry, cut it off at the base.
After the second flowering, or if the stem is completely dry, cut it off at the base.
Taking cuttings
You can take cuttings all year round.
Phalaenopsis violacea produce shoots called keikis. They form in the leaf axils, at the base of the plant, or on the flowering stem.
Locate a keiki with at least three leaves and three three-centimeter roots. You can detach it with your hands by gently rotating it. After a few rotations, the young shoot will separate from the orchid.
You can also detach the keiki with clean secateurs or scissors. In this case, cut the flower stem a centimetre above and a centimetre below.
Soak the roots of your keiki in water at room temperature for ten minutes.
Prepare a pierced plastic pot. Place clay balls in the bottom for drainage. Add a mixture of sphagnum moss and bark. Place your keiki in the center and fill with the growing medium.
Young plants like humid atmospheres. You can place them in a terrarium or greenhouse until they form new leaves.
Wintering
The plant needs a winter period to flower from one year to the next.
Phalaenopsis violacea bloom again on their own. If no buds appear two months after the last bloom, your Phalaenopsis violacea may need a boost.
For two to three weeks, place it in a room with a temperature of 15°. Reduce watering. It shouldn't be long before new flowers appear.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposure
- Sun
- Substrate
- Humus soil
- Planting method
- In pots
- Tags
- FloweryCold-sensitive
- Origin
- Southeast Asia
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Leaf color
- Light green
- Flower colors
- WhiteRoseVioletPale green
Discover plants from the same family
Moon Orchid
Phalaenopsis amabilis
Butterfly orchid
Phalaenopsis hybride
Find out more
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
