Violet orchid flower Phalaenopsis violocea

Credit: Motohiro Sunouchi

Violet green and white orchid Phalaenopsis violacea

Credit: Motohiro Sunouchi

Three purple orchid flowers with green leaves

Credit: Motohiro Sunouchi

A Phalaenopsis orchid flower in a pot

Credit: Felix

Phalaenopsis violacea, a fragrant butterfly orchid

Phalaenopsis violacea likes dark, damp atmospheres. This epiphytic butterfly orchid grows in the swamps and forests of Malaysia and Sumatra. With its delicate flowers and sweet fragrance, it is a delight for collectors and scientists alike.

How to recognize the Phalaenopsis violacea orchid?

Phalaenopsis violacea is an orchid with a drooping habit. Its two-centimetre stem is concealed by interlocking leaves. Elliptical and oblong, they are at most 25 centimetres long and twelve centimetres wide. In spring, they are fleshy and wavy.

The inflorescence is short and the rachis zigzags. The flowering stem bears between five and seven flowers. They bloom one after the other in spring and autumn. Each flower measures three to four centimetres. They consist of three sepals with greenish, pointed tips, two elliptical petals and a three-lobed labellum. Sepals and petals are almost the same shape and size, giving the flower a star-like appearance.

Phalaenopsis violacea takes its name from the violet color of its flowers. The labellum is generally purplish-pink with orange tips. But some varieties have pink, green or white calyxes and corollas. In some botanical specimens, the complexion is uniform, while in others, the intensity varies between the heart and the apex.

The Phalaenopsis violacea orchid has a floral fragrance similar to that of water lilies or lily of the valley, enhanced by a spicy note reminiscent of cinnamon or bergamot. Appreciated for its fragrance and the allure of its flowers, the species has spawned numerous varieties of Phalaenopsis hybride. Purple, red, yellow... They now come in all colors.

Like phalaenopsis Aphrodite or moon Orchid, this butterfly orchid is not toxic on contact or if swallowed.

Our maintenance 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.

Spray

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

In spring, transfer your Phalaenopsis violacea to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.

Repotting should always be carried out outside flowering periods.

Phalaenopsis violacea like to be cramped. Repot only when the roots have invaded the pot, the substrate has decomposed or the plant no longer fits in its container.

Get a pierced pot made of transparent plastic. This material has two advantages: it lets the roots take advantage of the light, and you can monitor their condition.

To repot an epiphytic plant, you don't need potting soil, but a mixture that allows the roots to anchor themselves. You'll find orchid substrate on the market, made up of bark, sphagnum moss and mosses. To prepare for repotting, moisten the substrate.

In the meantime, remove the roots from the plant. Uncoil the roots and completely remove the old substrate. If you notice any flat, dry or damaged roots, cut them off with a clean pair of scissors or pruning shears.

Pour in a little growing medium. Place your phalaenopsis violacea in the center of the container and add substrate. It should reach right up to the crown and get in between the roots. You can shake gently to distribute the mixture more evenly. Once the pot is full, pack lightly without suffocating the roots.

The end of plant growth is a good time to repot phalaenopsis violacea.

Repotting should always be carried out outside flowering periods.

Phalaenopsis violacea like to be cramped. Repot only when the roots have invaded the pot, the substrate has decomposed or the plant no longer fits in its container.

Get a pierced pot made of transparent plastic. This material has two advantages: it lets the roots take advantage of the light, and you can monitor their condition.

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.

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.

Cutting

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

Family	Orchids - Orchidaceae
Type	Butterfly orchid - Phalaenopsis
Species	Phalaenopsis violacea - Phalaenopsis violacea
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Sun
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting method	In pots
Categories	Interior Flowery
Tags	Flowery Fritillary
Origin	Southeast Asia
Hardiness (USDA)	11b
Leaf color
Flower colors