Phalaenopsis buyssoniana

Also known as: Buysson's Phalaenopsis or Doritis buyssoniana h.v. champornensis-alba Doritis buyssoniana h.f. alba-aquinii Doritis buysonniana h.f. alba Phalaenopsis buyssoniana h.f. alba Doritaenopsis buyssoniana h.f. alba Doritis pulcherrima var. buyssoniana in the subfamily: Epidendroideae

Native to: Bangkok - Thailand

General Information

Buysson's Phalaenopsis is a monopodial cool to warm growing epiphytic orchid belonging to the sub family Epidendroideae native to Thailand. It is named after the French Horticulturist later in the 19th century.

Plant Description

Monopodial. Grows to 50cm. Each new growth has numerous thick elliptic, oblong shaped leaves that grow to 9.5-25cm long

Flowers

Numerous blossoms appear during Summer

Blooming Season

• Summer

Substrate(s)

• Coarse
• Charcoal
• Sand

Care Notes

These orchids like to be watered regulary, especially during warm weather, and prefer a well draining mix or also do well mounted, provided they can be watered daily or even many times a day.

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.

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 elevations. Rainfall ranges from 5mm to 521mm per day, heaviest in August and lightest in January. Humidity ranges from 61% to 83%, highest in August and lowest in January. Temperature ranges from 13C to 35C, highest in April (24C to 35C) and lowest in January (13C to 28C).

Watering

These orchids prefer a constant supply of moisture, with a slight drying out between waterings. Saucers can be placed under pots to retain moisture during hot weather, however the saucers should be removed or let to dry every 1-2 weeks to prevent rot. Keep an eye on the plant especially in hot weather and look for cues of under/overwatering and adjust accordingly.

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.

Apply fertiliser regularly at half strength year round. Use a high Nitrogen fertiliser during Spring and Summer. Use a high Phosphorous fertiliser during Summer. Reduce fertiliser when plant is dormant during Spring.

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,

Repotting is best done annually.