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ThePhaius tankervilliae or Phaius tankervilleae , also known as the Phaius Nun ’s orchid or Nun ’s Cap Orchid , is one of the easy orchid metal money to grow at home .
It ’s native to native to China , Hong Kong , Taiwan , the Pacific Islands , Malaysia , Thailand , and Indonesia .
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The handsome foliage of the nun orchid is large and palm - alike , with private leaves being from 2′ to 3′ human foot long and 5″ or 6″ inches wide . Their increase is upright and heavyset .
On the other hand , the flower spike out on the nun orchid grow up to 4′ feet tall , so plant life will take little way in your window .
Its vulgar name reference the throat of the flower , resembling a nun with her caput bowed in supplicant .
Other coarse names include :
The whitened nun orchid blooms with a hatful of flowers in colors of bloodless , maroon , ruddy brown , and pinkie - yellow . These fragrant flowers last a very retentive time during springiness .
The ground orchidaceous plant is uncommitted online or by mail order from many orchid specialiser .
However , due to modern - daytime cloning technology , more growers now originate Phaius orchid plants as a seasonal crop .
Phaius A Terrestrial Orchid
Unlike the cattleya or intimate bouquet orchidaceous plant , the Phaius is a tellurian orchidaceous plant plant , which signify they maturate in filth .
Caring For The Nun Orchid Phaius
Phaius , as a ground orchidaceous plant , needs even damp ground and good Christ Within but avoids direct sun . The nun buoy ’s orchidaceous plant will get along with a fairly less humid air thancattleyas .
I know of someone who grows their Phaius tankervilliae all yr round in their bedchamber with a large picture windowpane that front almost due west . There it receives good light all 24-hour interval and warm temperature .
During the crepuscle and winter months , sunlight does not reach through to touch the plant until later afternoon , but this is dribble through drape and does n’t seem to nettle the plant .
In summer , the direct and vivid sun pullulate through the window curtly after noontide . The window , with the curtains , supply good light source even when drawn to protect the leaf from the Dominicus ’s burn rays .
No Dormant Period
As phaius seems to have no dormant time period , this evergreen plant requires moisture throughout the year to live . This flowering flora grow in charge card passel want less frequent lacrimation equate to the unity grown in clay pots .
I ’ve found potted nun ’s orchid flora in 6″ column inch plastic pot require watering only once a week in wintertime and twice a week in summer for optimal growth .
Once monthly , after tearing , feast the plant a pint of unaccented liquid fertilizer of 20 - 20 - 20 or utilize aslow - release fertilizeron the soil during their active growth .
Placing a locoweed on a dish aerial with pebble and water or a humidness tray provides sufficient humidity . Do n’t test to increase humidity by wetting the leafage , as the water - sensitive leave-taking may become discredited .
On raging summer solar day , however , the leafage may be light mist - spray . But do n’t overdo it , and be trusted to leave it ironic by evening .
Blooming The Phaius A Nun Appears
Phaius may flower in February , March , or April . Sometime in midwinter , a bloom scape ( or two or more ) will appear from the root word of the industrial plant .
outgrowth is fairly rapid , but even so , you will watch over for the orchid blush daily , with expectant excitement at first and increased impatience later .
Then one day , you will stand in front of your phaius , as the lower bud on the flower stalk unroll its handsome tan - and - bloodless petal – some of the new loanblend are rust orange .
You ’ll alive one dawning early in March to find that the first bud had opened sometime during the night .
The Phaius tankervilleae bloom , about 5″ inch wide , has petals osseous tissue - lily-white on the back , the front a endearing tan edge with a thin streak of off-white - white .
The tubular mouth , or labellum , about 2 column inch long , was a endearing tint of cardinal - red , the edge frilled and touched with that same tan .
Put your middle to the back talk to see the “ nun ” in spite of appearance and experience a kick .
attend inside the labellum of the phaius orchid will produce a frisson when you see the conical buoy . However , you will get a better view if you cautiously part the labellum .
The pillar inside resembles a nun , even to the goon on her head and her two tiny black oculus !
Individual blooms last about ten days to two calendar week before drop , but your plant will remain in salad days for at least a month .
When the last bloom fades , cut the scape off close to the bottom of the plant .
Propagation: New Nun’s Orchid From Old Flower Stems
Do not toss aside the scape or peak husk , as it is a source of new plants .
With a astute knife , cut the prime stalk from the mature plant into about six - inch lengths , ensuring there are two nodes ( gibbosity along the stem ) to each .
Place the shank horizontally on vermiculite , keeping the medium damp , and piazza in a tender , shaded spot .
Many of these will doubtlessly molder ( they do for me as well ) , but some with dormant eyes will spud to increase your stock of plant life . New plantlet will be declamatory enough to come off from the stirrup in four or five month .
establish them using a potting mix like a “ miracle grow mix , ” coco peat , perlite , pine bark , and even in moist sphagnum moss . Just make certain the potting intermixture is also well - drain dirt .
However , a flying way to increase your blood line of bloom - sized plants is by dividing pseudobulbs . Put each bulb in a freestanding pot .
