Pecteilis susannae

Pecteilis susannae (L.) Raf. is a tuberous terrestrial orchid in the family Orchidaceae. Its native range extends from Nepal and northeastern India through southern China and mainland Southeast Asia to Malesia and New Guinea. It generally grows in wet tropical habitats, often in grasslands and open areas at higher elevations.

The species is a medium to large terrestrial orchid arising from underground tubers. It produces an erect flowering stem with a showy inflorescence. The flowers are predominantly white, fragrant at night, and have a long, pendent spur. It is closely related to other spectacular Pecteilis species and is sometimes encountered in older literature under Habenaria susannae.

Care Tips:

• Light: Provide bright filtered light during active growth. Gentle morning or late-afternoon sun is beneficial, while strong midday sunlight should be avoided.
• Watering: Keep the medium consistently moist during active growth, but avoid stagnant, waterlogged conditions.
• Growing Medium: Use a sandy, loose terrestrial orchid mix with good drainage. The AOS specifically recommends a sandy terrestrial mixture for Pecteilis.
• Humidity: Moderate to high humidity is suitable, together with good airflow.
• Temperature: Intermediate to warm conditions are appropriate during active growth. Avoid prolonged cold temperatures.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly with a diluted balanced fertilizer during active growth. Reduce feeding as the plant approaches dormancy.
• Airflow: Provide gentle, continuous air movement, particularly when humidity is high.
• Dormancy: After flowering, the leaves naturally begin to wither. Stop watering once the foliage has died back and keep the tuber dry during dormancy.
• Repotting: Repot while the tuber is dormant. Handle the underground tuber carefully and avoid damaging new growth.
• Starting growth: Resume watering when new shoots appear. Do not keep the dormant tuber continuously wet, as this can lead to rot.
• Flowering: Good light and consistent moisture during active growth help encourage a strong flowering spike. The flowers are especially attractive when viewed in the evening because of their fragrance.