Phalaenopsis [Anthura Milwaukee] ('Phalgaqxyk')

RHS

Synonyms

Phalaenopsis 'Phalgaqxyk'

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

An epiphytic orchid to around 50cm in height, with dark green fleshy foliage, and a branching habit from low down on the stem. Purple-pink flowers, spotted red at the throat, can appear at any time during the year

Position

Partial shade

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Neutral

Position

Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–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

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Orchidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Phalaenopsis are a large genus of species and hybrid mainly epiphytic orchids. Short, upward growing, stem-like rhizomes with no pseudobulbs produce oval, fleshy mid to dark green leaves and flowers in branched racemes from the base of the leaves
Name Status: Trade

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in open bark-based, epiphytic orchid compost allowing the aerial roots to hang outside. Provide bright filtered light, good ventilation and from spring to autumn mist daily for high humidity, water freely as compost dries out, allowing water to drain and apply an orchid fertiliser monthly. Provide a minimum day temperature of 17°C and night minimum of 15°C; See Phalaenopsis cultivation

Propagation

Small plantlets (keiki) may appear from the nodes on the flower stems, detach plantlets when they have developed several good roots and pot up in orchid compost, water sparingly at first, but mist daily

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required, cut back flowered stems to a lower node to encourage further flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free