Phalaenopsis philippinensis

[Bud]

This winter-blooming orchid has silvery mottled leaves and produces an arching spike with pink-tinted white flowers. This plant is endemic to the island of Luzon in the Philippines. In its natural environment, this grows along tree branches in dense, humid forests of the Cordillera mountain ranges. They only have two seasons: the dry hot summers and the monsoon rains. The most impressive plant in bloom I seen on pictures is the one from Wiki taken at the National Orchid Garden in Singapore. That made me decide to grow this kind of plant.
The silvery mottled leaves of this orchid are broad, tongue-like and shiny with an underlay of dark green. Each leathery leaf rises from nodes along a very short stem. After the last blossom fades, the stalk remains and often will send up a side shoot from a lower node for a second batch of blooms so don’t cut the spike too soon.
It is an epiphyte that grows best mounted on a tree trunk, cork slab, nestled in a slatted basket or potted. I decided to pot it in a drilled decorative glass vase filled with bark mix, coco chips, lava rock, charcoal and clay chips.
From spring to fall water frequently (evenly moist but not wet) or only when the plant and bark are dry to the touch. I provide it with high humidity and ample air circulation to prevent rot. Weekly weakly fertilizer and I alternate it with seaweed mix and worm tea mix. This orchid needs very bright indirect light; dark green leaves usually mean light levels are too low. Protect from frost.

[ElenaMarie]

Oh, a beautiful flower!

[Bud]

Thank You, ElenaMarie !

[WhiteRabbit]

Beautiful!

[greenbean]

You're plant looks happy! Beautiful flowers, too!

What is the leaf span on your plant, roughly? I have a seedling with about a 5-6 inch leaf span and I'm wondering how much longer I'll have to wait to see blooms.

[The Mutant]

I love the shape of the flowers on this one, but don't care much for the colour, or rather lack thereof. It was the flower shape and that gorgeous foliage that convinced med to order one for myself.

Yours is an epitome of a happy Phal, Bud. Great growing!

[tucker85]

Beautiful! I love the silver mottled leaves.

[Bud]

Thank You, Sonya !

Thank You, Evan ! the leaf span of this plant is 25 inches and the crown where the two leaves meet is half an inch...this is the second time this plant has bloomed. I think your plant will bloom when it reaches 8 to 9 leaf span. Dont be disappointed if you only get four or five flowers on the first blooming...as this plant grows bigger the bigger the flower size and more blooms on each spike.

[Bud]

@The Mutant :
this is a classic Phalaenopsis, you will never regret growing this. Oh, and I forgot to mention it is fragrant! Early morning it has that musky smell of pine trees on a fresh summer rain and ripe tangerines. The citrus cologne by Hermes.

[Bud]

Thank You, Tucker ! I really do appreciate your input.