Beautiful scented phal!

8 years ago

Isn’t she a beauty?? I bought her at Trader Joe’s only because I liked her color. However, I kept noticing a delightful scent in the mornings and evenings until finally I realized it was from her flowers. It is strongest when they are opening or newly opened. The ones in the pic do not smell as much now as they’ve been opened for a while. I’ve never had a scented phal and did not know they existed. What a lucky find! Anyone else have scented phals? I’m curious now...

The scented one is the one on the left. The bright pink one I’ve had for many years and this year it put out one big stem with five branches of flowers. Even luckier...the scented one has a twin in the pot the same size that has not bloomed yet. I will separate them carefully when I repot it.

Featured Answer

Ephemerati

8 years ago

Good growing! You clearly have the magic touch for phals. :)

Most species phals are scented - P. violacea and P. bellina are famous for their beautiful fragrance (and equally beautiful flowers). Sadly, fragrance has not been the priority when hybridising phals so most have lost this trait in favour of colour and size; few non-orchid growers are aware that these orchids can smell as lovely as they look. If you're after fragrant phals, look for primary hybrids with the aforementioned species in their immediate background. The more complex the hybrid the less likely they'll retain any scent. Or you could also grow the species - they're very rewarding!

This is a photo of one of my first orchids, a small-flowered noID phal that was a lucky find at a grocery store. In full bloom the masses of flowers emit a wonderful almost raspberry sweet fragrance that is very strong in the morning, especially in sunlight. It's been my most prolific and reliable performer over the years:

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Comments (9)

ootockalockatuvik_7a
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
What is the scent of your Phal? That would help narrow down the progeny. Phalaenopsis honghenensis has the smell of Grape Candy. Phalaenopsis violacea a spicy cinnamon smell. My favorite scented orchid is by far Brassavola nodosa. Once the sun goes down, the whole room smells great. I also enjoy Lycaste aromatica, strong cinnamon gum scent.
Laura LaRosa (7b)
Original Author
8 years ago
Ootocka I am not sure. It is not a super sweet smell, but a pleasant one. Smells like perfume almost.
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Laura LaRosa (7b)
Original Author
8 years ago
Ephemerati, thank you for the explanation. That makes sense. Your phal is lovely - what a find!! I just noticed something else quite strange about that orchid. Another flower opened today and it is quite a different color. I know that flowers fade with time, but other flowers that have opened up on that orchid have not been that color. I’ve never seen that before. I may start another post about that to see if others have ideas.
Ephemerati
8 years ago
Hi Laura, light and temperature during bud development can affect the colour intensity of flowers, and not just for orchids. If the latest bud finished its development in your home environment that may explain the difference in colouring compared to the older blooms. It's a very nice, intense shade! I don't think you have anything to worry about. It'll be interesting to see if further flowers that open also have the same colour, and if they keep it or change to the same shade as the older ones as they age.
Laura LaRosa (7b)
Original Author
8 years ago
Ephemarati, thank you again for the explanation. I was wondering if I had some type of mutant orchid..lol :). What you say makes sense. I did buy this one at Trader Joe’s maybe 4-6 weeks ago and it has been sitting in my kitchen near a window so they light I am sure has varied. I’ll keep an eye out on it.
Ephemerati
8 years ago
Laura, the extra light from your kitchen window may be responsible for the intensified colour. Some orchids do have blooms that change colour - Brassia Orange Delight is known for flowers that open bright yellow and turn dark orange as they age. I have one and it's like having two plants in one. :)
Fuad Efendi
6 years ago
Interesting. I recently bought two small phals looking like Ephemerati phal, with nice fragrance. And I have few dozen of huge phals which I got for free from grocery store to save them; many of same kind; I was almost ready to give it away to neighbours, but now I need to wait for flowers :)
Meyermike(Zone 6a Ma.)
5 years ago
Laura, where was I when you posted this????

Beautiful. Good for you. They are so hard to find. What a find. Ho's it doing now? How's the baby one? LOVE them. I hope to find one like that. They are much more easier to grow then the smaller sized one. Just great))) Hope all is well with you and your family.