Why Dont Wild Phals get Crown Rot? (Phal violacea in Natural Pose)

[YetAnotherOrchidNut]

A lot of folks think that Phalaenopsis grow as we tend to grow them at home, with the crown pointed up. A common refrain related to this is that you should be careful to avoid getting water in the crown because it will lead to crown rot. Yet Phalaenopsis tends to grow in environments where they get totally soaked, so why don't they get crown rot in the wild? (No doubt occasionally they do, but if it happened often then they wouldn't survive as a species.)

The answer is that in the wild they grow sideways or hanging down. Water doesn't collect in the crown for long because it is not aimed at the sky like a cup, but rather pointed sideways or even downwards so that the water runs out naturally. You can see this in the below shot of a collection of Phal. Violacea growing from the side of a tree in the Singapore Botanical Gardens National Orchid Garden.

The bottom plant is a Phal. Vio Vio 'Cat Face', (Phal violacea x Phal. Jungo Viotris.)

[estación seca]

Phal. violacea and other star-flowered species also have much warmer temperatures in habitat than most people keep in their houses. In summer when my growing area is hot I don't worry at all about water standing in the crown.

[Steve83]

Air flow

[WaterWitchin]

That's why some folks (me) plant phals with the crowns draping downward instead of planted like a commercial grower...little upright lines of soldiers. They pot that way to get more in a tray and easier packing/shipping. Doesn't matter whether species or hybrid; they benefit from being planted as nature intended.

[SFLguy]

I feel like the biggest factor is definitely air flow to help dry out any water in the crown above all else. When you think about how commercial greenhouses water their Phalaenopsis, it's almost always overhead watering and they're still grown in a pots like they would at home. The difference are the big fans causing air movement throughout the greenhouses

[WaterWitchin]

Well, I do also have fans on my orchids, so who knows? I'd think likely a combo of the two.

[YetAnotherOrchidNut]

Originally Posted by Steve83

Air flow

Airflow is obviously a solution in cultivation but I don't think it's a great explanation for the wild. I think places where these plants grow in the wild often are very wet with minimal airflow. Jungle forest isn't known for it breezy air. No doubt it's a factor but I think posture is a better explanation.

[Roberta]

Orientation so that water runs off is a big factor. The other is temperature... where Phals grow in nature, they're never cold (or even slightly chilly)...

[YetAnotherOrchidNut]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Orientation so that water runs off is a big factor. The other is temperature... where Phals grow in nature, they're never cold (or even slightly chilly)...

I guess it depends on your definition of cold, but my deciduous Phal finleyi is adapted to a colder winter environment that I would call chilly, eg down to 7c (45f). But I guess it's one of those exceptions that proves the rule. :-)

Don't forget some of those warm places have mountains where things can get cold just due to elevation.

[nemesis]

Can you please define, "Slightly Chilly?" I thought they would be fine as long as they were at a minimum of 65F. Thank You.