Reblooming Phaius Dan Rosenberg

[SheilaJ]

Phaius is a great genus. I have about 5 of them now. My first one, a large P. tankervillae, is getting quite large. I cut off the spike after it blooms. Remember to fertilize regularly.

It has been my experience that each new offset blooms once, then after the spike dies, it will put out 1 to 3 additional offsets that will bloom the next winter. If you leave them all together, over time you will get a nice large clump with lots of spikes and flowers.

I love Phaius. The leaves are so cool, and you can grow them in regular houseplant soil if you want to. (Or sphagnum moss - I do both.)

[Ray]

Phaius are sympodial orchids, meaning they form multiple growths via a rhizome. Even though each growth is its own plant, while connected to the "colony", every plant shares its resources and the colony acts as a single plant, being much stronger and hardier because of it.

Eventually the colony will get so big you'll want to divide it, but when you do, be sure to keep clumps consisting on AT LEAST two mature pseudobulbs and a new growth.

[liz in hampton]

Did you get an answer? I have the same question.

[SheilaJ]

Cut off the spike. It won't bloom again from that spike.