Growing Orchids

The Phaius Story

     Phaius tankervilliiur

The genus Phaius, although not one of the treasured 'commercials,' is satisfactory and easy to grow. The plant is terrestrial and epiphytic, handsomely ornamental, and usually pseudobulbous. It has large fine leaves from the midst of which rise tall, erect stems bearing large, showy flowers.

Phaius crosses readily with Calanthe.

The Calanthe Story


The genus Calanthe is terrestrial, infrequently epiphytic, sympodial, evergreen, and sometimes deciduous. Having large, wide, gracefully drooping leaves of shimmering texture and artistic grooving, it is much used in England for table decoration. The pseudobulbs are large, heavy, and of light olive-green, and the flowers grow in sprays and are delicately colored, though coarser in texture than most orchids.