Phalaenopsis corningiana

Nearly missed this one as it’s hidden by the large leaves of the mother plant. Just one single bloom is enough to fill the shade house with a wonderful fragrance. Most of my plants bloom once year and always in the month of April. The flower above is the most current bloom but here are some other photos taken from previous years (all bloomed in April).

 

This particular one is not mine but the photo was taken in April 2008.

 

This one was photographed in April 2009 but the date on the file reads May 09 as my camera was mistakenly set a month forward at the time. Thankfully I keep records of all blooms by month and year.

 

 

Two plants of the same species, but the flowers have very different markings. Photographed in April 2009.

 

The flowers last for about a month and then it’s another long wait for the next flowering period. I am sure they only bloom in April for me or in my geographic location (depending on the weather or change in weather from wet to dry). A friend in Germany who keeps them indoors says that his plants bloom in the fall.

 

If only this species bloomed more frequently for me, it'd be my favorite phal because I do not know of any other phal with a fragrance so agreeable!

 

I have a seed pod about ready to burst which I hope to send off to be flasked in the coming days. Then I’ll have lots of Phalaenopsis corningiana seedlings. The last attempt was not successful as the flasks were contaminated by fungus.

 

A big and healthy Phalaenopsis plant found in the deep jungles of Borneo.

 

Today, beautiful and healthy clones are easily found in many nurseries and suppliers throughout the world. Even so, it is extremely important that wild stocks be protected as the gene pool is vast.

 

Sadly, these beautiful wild orchids are greatly threatened by loss of habitat (plantations and development). Their numbers have also been greatly reduced in the wild by collectors and poachers. Perhaps one day, with greater appreciation for nature and the world around us, we won’t have to depend on botanic gardens or zoos just to see something “wild”.