Phaius tankervillae

[mawnature]

That's amazing that you got so many potting instructions for your Phaius. Mine came in a trade, bareroot, with no instructions. It is potted in regular potting soil, but I plan to repot it soon. I'll keep these instructions in mind, however, I may use the bark-mix orchid soil that I have on hand. Various other suggestions have been posted concerning this, so I'm starting to think that Phaius isn't all that particular!

How can I upload a picture in a reply?

[howardsan]

Does anyone know how cold tolerant this one is? I'm thinking of getting one for my mom who lives in Albany,Ga(zone 8). Would she be able to grow it outdoors there? Thanks for any help you can provide...I'm fairly new and inexperienced with orchids.

[nynighthawk]

Thanks Annette for asking your question, and thanks to everyone for their replies.

I also bought two phaiuses recently - a small "Rabin's Raven" which is only about five inches tall, and a "Dan Rosenberg, Mellow Yellow". They were both potted just in spagnum, but have put out lots of new roots since I got them. The Mellow Yellow has put up a large, robust growth that is now about a foot tall. I don't know if this will put out a flower spike this season, but I'm hopeful.

I am wondering if this is a good time to repot it in a more terrestrial mix, since it's in active growth, or if this might disrupt its flowering cycle (assuming that the larger plant is thinking about flowering).

Any suggestions about when to repot greatly appreciated.

I have loved the phaius for a long time and finally got up the nerve to give it a try.

From what I can see on the internet, it should do well under cymbidium conditions - but maybe a little less light???? I leave my cym outside in my yard where it gets about four hours of direct sun from early spring to near-frost and it's been doing well under those conditions. Can the phaius take that in zone 6/7 or should I give it some light shade?

Again....any thoughts, feedback greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

[nynighthawk]

Oops, I noticed on an earlier thread that folks suggested some light shade for these chids.

Sorry to ask a question that was answered earlier elsewhere.

Still curious about best time to repot, though.

:-)

[cloudswinger]

The instructions that came with mine say that they resent repotting during active growth. It said it'll grow, then flower, then rest, so repotting can be done then. Also, I've read that you can lose the leaves over the winter and it'll recover in the spring.

[nynighthawk]

That's very good to know! Some of the other orchids I have recommend repotting during "active" growth, so it's very good to know that these chids might resent it.

Likewise good to know that they may lose some leaves, too. One lower leaf recently turned yellow very rapidly and another old leaf is getting a little yellow-mottled. I was going to take a photo of that and post it and ask if this is a problem, but maybe this is natural dieback. I think I might post the photo anyway, just to make sure.

Thanks for your info. :-)

[Ray]

I don't think zone 8 is appropriate - too much of a chance for freezing.

[SeanJS]

Most of my PT's enjoy a few hours of shade during mid day but otherwise get full sun in a southern facing bed. The potted ones are in moderate shade and bloom just as well as the others. They hate poorly draining potting soil. They only bloom in Spring for me, however the Phaiocalanthes I just ordered are supposed to be fall bloomers! The ones in the ground are in mostly sand and have been doing great for years. The grounded ones get nutricote once a year and only get watered when the sky decides to open up. It should probably be noted that we get over 50" of rain a year.

The only protection the grounded ones get is a sheet or blanket during threats of frost and I do usually see some burning, generally on the older leaves. I do also see some die off of older leaves, perhaps succumbing to fungus. Ive never seen more than a few leaves die off out of the entire group at one time, and it doesnt seem to be a seasonal thing. The only time I see a bulb completely leafless is when it has at least 3 or so newer mature growths.

The Phaiocalanthes are going to stay in pots and I am considering 2:1:1 peat, fine fir, perlite. They are coming in straight sphagnum, however I cant keep anything successfully potted in straight sphagnum. It just never seems to dry out! Anybody have any thoughts on the mix?

My professor was lecturing on rusts earlier this week and apparently they can be particularly damaging to phaius and should be something to constantly keep an eye out for.