Phalaenopsis Violacea: The Gorgeous Tropical Beauty

Phalaenopsis violacea is one of the most famous Phalaenopsis species. It has beautiful Fuschia, purple, fragrant flowers that make it a hit among orchid enthusiasts. It is a warm-growing orchid that loves high humidity and moisture.

Read from our holistic care guide to know how to grow and care for Phalaenopsis violacea.

What Is Phalaenopsis Violacea?

Phalaenopsis violacea is an epiphytic orchid native to the tropical rainforests of Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India, northwestern Sumatra, and the Malay peninsula. It belongs to the Phalaenopsis genus and Orchidaceae family.

Phalaenopsis violacea is known by some of its common names, such as the Violet phalaenopsis, the Violet moth orchid, and Stauitis violacea. Johannes Teijsmann discovered it first in 1859 but H. Witte flowered it first in 1861.

• Size and Growth

Phalaenopsis violacea is a small to medium epiphytic that grows in the rainforests at an elevation of 320 to 500 feet. It grows on the lower tree branches along the river stream. It has short stems that carry obtuse, undulate leaves. It has 4 to 5 inches long inflorescences that carry two to three fragrant blooms.

It is a botanical orchid and not a hybrid orchid, which naturally develops as a species. It is a slow-grower and remains small to medium in size.

• Foliage

Phalaenopsis violacea has medium-sized, wide, and light-green foliage. The leaves are oblong-elliptic and have a glossy and leathery texture. The leaves reach a length of 6 to 10 inches and a width of 3 to 5 inches. It has paler leaves than most other orchids belonging to the Phalaenopsis genus.

• Flowers

Phalaenopsis violacea is a summer-blooming waxy orchid. The flowers bloom from spring to summer. The beautiful and fragrant blooms can last up to four months if cared for properly.

The violet-colored flower is 1.5 inches in diameter. Some varieties have a slight green tinge on the sepal edges, and the bloom color may vary slightly from an intense purple to indigo.

Unlike other Phalaenopsis orchids, Phalaenopsis violacea has flowers that have a star-like shape. The blooms have a very sweet yet spicy, cinnamon-like fragrance. It is a sequential bloomer.

The flower spike is short, but it might need staking to keep the flowers upright. If you do not stake them, the flowers will fall below, and they look great in hanging baskets.

Do not cut the stems when the plant is done blooming because the stems produce blooms again in the next season.

• Roots

Phalaenopsis violacea roots are indicative of its water requirements. They turn silvery-grey when the plant is thirsty and look green when it does not need water.

Phalaenopsis Violacea Culture and Care: Its Growth Requirements

Phalaenopsis violacea is not a very fussy orchid when it comes to its care and cultivation. Read on to find out its exact growth requirements.

• Light Requirements

Phalaenopsis violacea is a deep shade plant. So do not put it in direct sunlight, especially during noon. However, it prefers slightly more light than other shade-loving orchids. It needs bright, indirect light to grow well.

Morning and evening sunlight is fine, but do not place them in the harsh sunlight during noon since it will burn the leaves and turn them black. Keep it in a spot where it receives bright light for 12 hours a day.

Windowsills receiving bright, indirect light throughout the day are a good spot for your orchid.

• Water Requirements

Phalaenopsis violacea grows in swampy and moist conditions in its natural environment. So we can say that it has high water needs. It has high water requirements and likes its soil moist at most times.

In between two waterings, the roots should be almost dry but never completely dry. Only water them when the plant is about to dry out completely.  Never allow your orchid to dry out completely in between waterings.

A good way to find out if your plant needs water or not is by looking at its roots. If the roots appear silvery-grey, it means that the plant is thirsty, and you should water it immediately. If the roots appear green and look healthy, you can wait and water when they turn grey.

The ideal time to water your orchid is during the first part of the day and allow it to dry during the night.

• Temperature

Phalaenopsis violacea needs medium to high temperatures to bloom successfully. It prefers an average daytime temperature between 77 and 84 Fahrenheit in summer and an average nighttime temperature of 65 to 68 Fahrenheit.

It needs an average daytime temperature of 68 to 72 Fahrenheit during the winter months and an average nighttime temperature between 59 and 62 Fahrenheit.

Phalaenopsis violacea is a small-sized orchid. Tiny Phalaenopsis orchids need heat and long days to bloom. In contrast, the big ones bloom during spring because they require low nighttime temperatures and a big difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures.

• Soil Mix

Phalaenopsis violacea needs a well-draining soil medium that is moist and airy. It grows well when mounted on tree trunks, bark, or cork slabs. If you have your orchid mounted, sphagnum moss wrapped around the roots works fine.

It grows well in both pots and bare roots. Choose a transparent pot or container which makes it easy to check on the roots and soil mix. Pine bark of 1-inch width works well for this orchid’s growth.

A well-draining soil mix would consist of bark chips mixed with perlite or charcoal. As compared to mounted orchids, orchids in pots would require less frequent waterings.

 

• Humidity

Phalaenopsis violacea needs a humidity level above 60 percent if it is in a pot or container and above 75 percent if it is bare-rooted. It needs higher humidity as compared to other Phalaenopsis orchids.

If humidity is low in your area, use pebble trays filled with water to increase the humidity around the plant. You can also use humidifiers to increase the humidity.

In an effort to keep the humidity level high, do not forget to keep the air moving. Maintain high air movement to avoid root rot and plant decay due to high humidity and moisture.

• Fertilizer Requirements

Phalaenopsis violacea grows well with regular fertilization during the high growth period of spring and summer. Apply one-fourth of the recommended dose mentioned on an orchid fertilizer once in 15 days for best results. Reduce the fertilization during autumn and further during winter. As spring approaches, resume regular fertilization.

Repotting Phalaenopsis Violacea

Repot your orchid in early spring when new growth begins to show. Do not repot in winter. When you notice the substrate decomposing and decaying, it is time to repot the orchid.

If your orchid is wrapped in sphagnum moss, gently remove all of it without hurting the roots. The roots are sensitive and are prone to damage and breakage. If there are any black or dead roots, cut them off. Wrap new moss around the roots, give the plant a good drench, and hang it on the slab of cork or tree fern.

If you are repotting in a new pot, remove the old soil mix and wash the roots properly. Then prepare the new soil mix of bark chips and perlite and place your orchid in the new pot.

Sometimes, Phalaenopsis violacea is prone to problems like spider mites. Spider mites are not easy to get rid of if your plant is heavily infected. Mites hide between the leaves. Spray with an insecticide continuously to get rid of them.

Conclusion

Phalaenopsis violacea has lovely, long-lasting fragrant flowers which are difficult to resist. We have compiled all the important points that you need to know about this beautiful orchid.

• Phalaenopsis violacea orchid is an epiphytic orchid endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Sumatra.
• It is a small-to-medium-sized orchid that has beautiful purple flowers.
• It blooms in spring and summer, and the flowers have a spicy, cinnamon-like fragrance.
• It grows well in bright light conditions, but avoid placing them in direct sunlight at noon.
• Use a mix of bark chips and perlite as soil mix if planted in pots and sphagnum moss if mounted on a cork slab.
• It requires abundant watering during the growing period, especially when mounted.
• It is a warm-growing orchid that needs comparatively higher temperatures than other orchids to grow well.
• It prefers high humidity levels above 60 percent. You can use humidity trays and humidifiers to increase the levels.
• Fertilize biweekly with one-fourth of the recommended dose on a balanced orchid fertilizer.
• Repot your orchid when its soil mix begins to decompose, preferably during the spring months.

 

We hope you found our Phalaenopsis violacea care guide helpful. If you are a fan of Phalaenopsis orchids, you must add Phalaenopsis violacea to your collection to add some spicy fragrance to your home.