Need Advice on Phaius Culture

[PleuroPal]

Hi y'all. I have a Gastrorchis Tuberculosa that was given to me about a year or two ago. Although it's still alive, and had put out a little new growth last year, it's never bloomed and lately is not looking too happy at all. In fact, I would say it's downright depressed. I've had it in regular potting soil, but yesterday I repotted it using a mixture of about equal parts fir bark, sphagnum moss and soil. I've gotten mixed messages regarding this species' water requirements and I'm not real clear on how much light it likes either. Any advice from people who have had success with this one would be greatly appreciated. I've attached a pic if that helps. Thanks!

[D&S Mabel]

I have three Phaius hybrid types and all bloom regularly for me. In fact, all are in bud or bloom right now.

They are in a potting soil/fir bark mix (I don't think they really need the bark but I had extra I needed to use up and thought I was doing a good thing at the time!) and I feed them with Dynamite time release fertilizer. I water them once a week in the winter and twice a week in the summer.

What I kinda struggled with at first with these was getting the right lighting conditions for them. Mine get VERY little direct light, spending most of the day in moderate shade. A little bit of direct light and they burn, too little light and I got weak or non-existent blooms. If your photo is an indication of where you keep the plant, my experience says you're giving it too much light

Unfortunately, I looked up what your blooms will look like... and I want one!! See - IOSPE PHOTOS

Oh, make sure they drain well as they don't like wet feet - moist soil is good but not wet. Good Luck!

[Dorothy]

As you wait for others to respond, check out these recently past threads
Phaius tankervillae
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...s-flowers.html
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...australis.html

[snow]

great looking flowers on that one.
good luck.

[PleuroPal]

Thanks D&S Mabel. Sometimes I take the plants outside to photograph them, just for the light. But they don't "live" out there. I'm keeping this one in moderate light as you described. I was told by Andy to keep this one moist at all times, which is why I added some sphagnum to the potting mixture. We'll see how it goes.