Orchids How To: Phalaenopsis Violacea, the first flowering!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Phalaenopsis Violacea, the first flowering!!!

Phalaenopsis violacea coerulea, orchid species on flowering, adult flower detail

Phalaenopsis violacea coerulea, orchid species,
adult flower detail
var. coerulea Malaysia x Dark red "Norton"
(picture of 10 September 2012)

Phalaenopsis violacea coerulea,
orchid species,
bud at beginning of flowering
(picture of 6 September 2012)

Finally, the flower of this phalaenopsis species! The variety of color of my plant is Malaysia coerulea x Dark red "Norton", I was looking for it for a while and I had bad luck with the previus two orchids of the same kind. This very young phalaenopsis violacea came to me about a month ago (5 August 2012) with a growing flower stalk but a fungus attack on roots (details on New purchases: Phalaenopsis violacea).

Repotting in pure sphagnum is working well, there are no signs of rot and the youngest leaf continued to grow, the roots are getting longer and are getting used to stay wet for a shorter time (how to repot a Phalaenopsis orchid in sphagnum moss) .

I followed the development of the bud from day to day because the phal violacea is one of my favorites and I could not wait to see the flower and to finally discover its famous fragrance!

Phalaenopsis Violacea coerulea detail of bud starts opening

Phalaenopsis violacea coerulea,
orchid species, bud starts opening
(picture of 6 September 2012)

Phalaenopsis Violacea coerulea, bud opening detail

Phalaenopsis violacea coerulea,
orchid species, bud opening
(picture of 7 September 2012)

Phalaenopsis Violacea coerulea flower almost opened

Phalaenopsis violacea coerulea, orchid species,
flower detail, almost opened
(picture of 7 September 2012)

The fragrance is wonderful, very sweet but with a slight hint of citrus scent. It always smells, even at night, but the parfume is much stronger in the morning, you can clearly feel it already from a meter away.
I noticed that the bud, the day before opening to reveal this beautiful flower, changed its structure, from a light and very shiny green it become a little matt yellow-green, even the stem had the same change in color, so that I was worried thinking to be near to lose it, but it was only a natural change due to the imminent opening.