Papilionanthe teres
Also known as: The Terete Leaf Papilionanthe or Papilionanthe teres h.f. alba Vanda teres h.f. alba Papilionanthe teres h.f. semialba Vanda teres h.v. aurorea Papilionanthe teres h.f. aurea Vanda teres h.v. andersonii Papilionanthe teres h.v. andersonii Vanda teres var. candida Vanda teres h.v. gigantea Vanda teres h.v. andersoni Papilionanthe teres f. candida In Thailand - Ueang kean - Ueang mok - Mok kulap in the subfamily: Epidendroideae
Native to: Bhutan China India Nepal Thailand
General Information
The Terete Leaf Papilionanthe is a monopodial cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Thailand.
Plant Description
Monopodial. Each new growth has numerous erect terete shaped leaves that grow to 0.4-20cm long
Flowers
Numerous long lasting, fragrant blossoms appear during Summer and Spring
Fragrance
The orchid is fragrant.
Blooming Season
- Spring
- Summer
Substrate(s)
- Coarse
- Bark
- Charcoal
Care Notes
These orchids like to be kept on the dry side, but may need to be watered daily during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered regularly.
These are quite a forgiving orchid, there are no special requirements to get this orchid to flower, just good care and consistent conditions. Larger plants may be more fussy and can react poorly to change; a poorly timed repotting, a pest infection or an unusually hot day can set them back for a couple of years. However, even plants that have been treated poorly can thrive, and if they are set back they often recover much stronger then they would otherwise be.
Fragrant:- IsFragrant
Climate
The orchids are well adapted for hot weather, accompanied by sporadic, unpredictable rainfall and a generally dry climate. They can tolerate a lot of neglect as they are quite used to it, however they can be prone to underwatering and may collapse in cold, wet weather.
For this reason it's best to dedicate a sheltered, protected area for them where the watering can be controlled, such as a corner of a greenhouse or in a sheltered balcony. They can also do well hung near the roof of a shadehouse or sheltered greenhouse where they receive the extra heat but not as much water as other plants.
Grows at low to high elevations. Rainfall ranges from 8mm to 292mm per day, heaviest in September and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 58% to 83%, highest in August and lowest in March. Temperature ranges from 13C to 36C, highest in April (24C to 36C) and lowest in January (13C to 29C).Watering
These orchids are sensitive to excessive watering and should only be watered when they look thirsty. Water infrequently and ensure that the roots are dry before watering. Keep an eye on them especially during hot weather as overwatering can lead to rot, whereas underwatering may result in wilting or shriveling, which while unattractive, will not kill the plant.
Fertiliser
Apply liquid based fertiliser per recommended directions. They can benefit from a high phosphate fertiliser leading up to flowering season, followed by a high nitrogen fertiliser when new growth appears, and a balanced fertiliser in other times. These orchids can also tolerate slow release fertiliser applied 1-2 pellets per cup (250ml) of media.
Use balanced fertiliser year round. Fertiliser can be applied heavily year round. Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a low Nitrogen fertiliser during Summer and Winter. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer and Winter.Potting
These plants are quite forgiving and will do well repotted ever 2-3 years. The mix should be coarse, well draining, and allow space for air to move and for roots to grow.
Alternatively, these plants will also do well mounted to tree fern or cork slabs, or mounted to trees.
Best time for repotting or mounting the orchids is the end of winter when new growths start to appear. Avoid repotting during hot weather,
This plant does very well in baskets or suspended pots
