Greetings and question about phaius culture
 

Greetings all,

I am a newbie to this forum and am looking forward to some lively and helpful discussions with you all.

I live in Brooklyn, NY (zone 7) and have had some success with cymbidiums by summering them outdoors in my small semi-shaded garden and wintering them indoors in a cool room with artificial light.

I am interested in adding some other orchids to my family, but since I don't have much room, I'm trying to find orchids that can take conditions similar to the cymbidiums, or thereabouts.

I just purchased a young phaius - Phaius Dan Rosenberg 'Mellow Yellow' - on eBay (first time I've bought anything like that at auction...lots of fun). I did receive a culture sheet with the plant, but I'm wondering if any of you have had any experience with phaius plants and can give me any additional guidance.

Thanks for any suggestions or first-hand experiences.

I am curious about a couple of other orchids, but I'll post those questions separately to avoid overly-complicated threads.

Best wishes,

Jess

My only experience is with Phaius tankervilleae, which is a terrestrial that prefers warmth, humidity and fairly deep shade.

I grow mine in semi-hydroponics, but my mother planted the one I gave her in sand under her Daytona Beach carport, and it thrives.

Thanks for the info, Ray. It confirms some info that suggests that the phaius tolerates some shade.

Congrats to your mom....I wish I lived in an area where I could grow orchids outdoors year-round.

Jess

It's a cute orchid - Phaius Dan Rosenberg 'Mellow Yellow' (No common name)
Phaius Dan Rosenberg "mello yellow": efg orchids
Though I don't have this orchid, I wish you great growing with it :)

FYI - Phaius Dan Rosenberg's parents are Phaius tankarvilleae x Phaius tuberculosus

I have my Phaius tankervilleae in regular soil with some extra perlite and small charcoal mixed in. It's in a large pot, the 'chid is huge...and has 6 spikes right now! :dance: ) It can tolerate some light but does much better in a shaded area.

Here are pics taken today, the pot is a 14 inch pot:

How cool is this plant! This was my first cid! Mine was planted in my front garden for years...grew like a weed (I've heard them referred to as "Nun Orchids")! The following winter we had a hard freeze (yes, even in Zone 9a...lol) and I lost her...very sad day!

Congrats on your addition, I'm sure it will give you lots of joy!

If summered outside, they can be attractive to ants to build nests in (the pot). Just something to watch for when bringing plants back indoors.

As mentioned, they will in time get huge. Much larger than the 14"er pictured previously.

Thanks so much for the helpful feedback. I'm glad that you've had so much success with this orchid and it sounds pretty forgiving about it's culture.

Susanne.....congratulations on that beautiful plant with so many flower spikes. It's going to be spectacular when it's in bloom! Wow.

I've found that when I've had my cymbidiums indoors over the winter that I sometimes end up with some scale problems. As soon as I put them out in the spring, the ants and wasps make a quick meal of them. Yikes! I was amazed the first year that I noticed a yellow jacket nibbling on the leaves of plant. I thought it was biting the leaves, maybe in an attempt to get nest-building material. But when I looked closer, I saw that it was eating a few scale insects.

The big thing I have to be careful of is bringing any slugs in the house in the fall. They can be among the roots inside the bottom of the pot, or have laid eggs in there. ech.

Thanks for all the encouragement, folks. :)

Jess

Oh Dorothy,

Thanks for the info about the parentage of Mellow Yellow. I find that kind of info very helpful.

Jess

The main thing is....do NOT overwater~! I grow mine in the landscape here in Tampa Bay where they do well. Shade/part sun...but since we seem to be in a perpetual drought...they thrive! Greg in New Port Richey (80F yesterday under sunny skies...home today sick!)