Phalaenopsis fimbriata is on of our Sarawak species and reminds us of the wonderful mountain forests we explored there in our 2019 expeditions.
Phalaenopsis fimbriata is reported growing on semi shaded limestone cliffs between 790 and 1300m. We came across this special habitat in Mulu National Park and found Paphiopedilum sanderianum growing near the top of cliffs shaded just by the tops of nearby trees. (below)
Phalaenopsis fimbriata produces pendulous flower stems – ideal for its habitat – and we will move the flowering plant into a basket as it grows larger to make the most of this habit. We grow the species warm (min 20C) although its habitat suggests that it could take it a little cooler.
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Brassavola tuberculata is a terete leaved relative of Cattleya and native to Brazil where it grows in warm open forest in good light. It is relatively slow growing and we find it does well mounted or in a basket with perfect drainage. We find it dislikes pots because the roots cannot tolerate prolonged wet periods. Saying this we find that the species enjoys being watered daily and when we have with held watering at flowering time the flowers have not opened fully – so mounted but well watered seems to be its preference in our greenhouse.
In 2018 it won Best Trade Species at the Malvern show, an RHS Cultural award, and won RHS Orchid of the Year 2018.
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The species is a classic moth pollinated orchid with flowers that are fragrant at night and the right pale colours to stand out in the dark forest.
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Another lovely summer flowering orchid is this wonderful Aerides from South East Asia.
Aerides houlettiana is a flamboyant orchid that transports us to the forest of Southern Laos. Our expeditions to Laos in 2005, 2008 and 2011 allowed us the opportunity to explore the rich forests of the Bolaven Plateau where this species grew.We collected seed from a plant hanging in a restaurant near Tadd Fann waterfall in 2008 and the plant shown is one of the seedlings from this batch. The startling flowers are probably butterfly pollinated and left to its own devices the plant is semi pendulous with the very pendulous flower spikes hanging below the growths to allow easy pollinator access. The flowers are fragrant as well as beautiful. Now that this plant is 12 years from seed sow it it has a long pendulous stem and copious roots that hand in the air making it a very attractive thing hanging from the roof of our Warm Asia section.
Aerides houlletiana is a medium sized species with a range across South East Asia where it grows in warm lowland forest up to around 1000m. We saw the species in the forests around the edge of the Bolevan Plateau in Southern Laos in open forest where it experience a warm wet summer followed by a cooler winter and a hot dry spring.
We grow the species in baskets of course bark and keep plants well watered in the summer and damp enough to avoid shrivelling in the winter. We keep the plants in Warm Asia (minimum 17C)
The species is a smaller growing species than Aerides odorata (below)
And larger growing than Aerides crassifolia (below)
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The Second Place Phalaenopsis (trade) award at Malvern went to our sweet little Phalaenopsis equestris.
This miniature Phalaenopsis species is native to the Philippines and Southern Taiwan where it is reported growing as an epiphyte in lowland forest near streams. It is a compact plant, 15cm across, that produces lots of flower
The small flowers are produced on arching spikes that continue to grow for several months with successive flowers each lasting about a month.
We have two clones – the awared clone is the peloric form with lateral petals resembling the lip while the little plant in the cup is the more normal form.
The habitat of Phalaenopsis equestris suggests a need for constant warm temperatures and so we find the greenhouse a little cool in winter but a centrally heated house perfect.
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Today we feature another of our award winners at last weekend’s show .
Vanda falcata is a cool growing orchid from Japan with very fragrant flowers and we grow our plants in Cool Asia in baskets where we keep them wet in the summer and damp in the winter. For us the species flowers from June right through to September and and our large white clone is usually the last to open. We have had this plant growing in its 8cm basket for at least 20 years – not long compared to the centuries that the species has been grown in Japan where Vanda falcata is called Fūki-ran or ‘orchid of the rich and noble people’.
The long spur holds the nectar and the flowers are pollinated by moths. With the flowers so fragrant we not only encourage students not only to breath on the plants, but to have a good old sniff.
The clone here is unusual with a pink stem. The normal form is all pure white (below)
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