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Conservatory Greenhouse

Thunia alba

A large, deciduous, terrestrial orchid with up to 60cm long canes, wrapped in thin, alternate, papery sheaths and green, sometimes blue-tinted, 20cm long and 4cm wide, lance-shaped leaves. Up to ten white, fragrant flowers are produced in a terminal cluster at the tip of mature canes in summer. The lip is golden-yellow with frilled edge. This orchid is leafless in winter, with the new growth emerging in spring from the buds at the base of last year's canes

Synonyms

Phaius albus

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1A

Botanical details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright, Trailing
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in an open, free-draining, bark-based orchid mix. Provide enough bright filtered light, but keep away from direct sunlight or a heating source. Ideal temperatures are around 13 °C minimum at night and up to maximum 24 °C during the day. Requires dry, winter rest when leafless. In spring and summer, water with soft water (ideally rainwater) when the pot feels light when lifted. Ensure that all water drains away, preventing the plant from sitting wet. Orchid fertiliser can be applied throughout the growing season. See indoor orchid cultivation for more tips.

Propagation

Propagation by seed is only possible in a controlled laboratory environment. Well-estastiblished plants can be propagated by division. Ensure each division has young enough, mature pseudobulbs to support new growth.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required other than removing spent flower stems.

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite. Thrips can cause damage on flowers and developing flower buds

Diseases

Generally disease-free. Poor air movement may cause bacterial or fungal rots. Good hygiene practice and sterilising cutting tools prevent the spread of virus diseases

Get involved

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