Thunia Orchids Grow Fast and Tall
Thunia flowers may resemble Cattleyas, but they are very different orchids. Thunias grow tall canes that look like cornstalks, and their 5 inch (12.7 cm) blooms hang in clusters from the tops. They may be the fastest growing orchids. New canes can reach up to 4 feet (1.2 m) tall in only a few months.
These terrestrials are native to the slopes of the Himalayas. Their flowers hang down, don’t open widely, and only last a few weeks, but still put on an impressive show. In winter, Thunias drop their leaves and go dormant. In spring, new canes emerge from the bases of old ones. The year-old canes stay green, but don’t grow or bloom. They provide energy for the fresh growth, and should be kept until the following year, when they dry up completely.
The middle photo in the last row shows a short, young Thunia resembling a cornstalk or bamboo. In order to bloom, new Thunia growth needs full sun in the spring. Too much water can rot the small leaves, so keep humidity high, but water very lightly. When they reach 6 inches (15 cm) tall, plants should moved into shade, watered regularly, and fertilized. As leaves yellow and drop in autumn, reduce water and fertilizer to a minimum. I keep mine cool and dry in winter, watering as seldom as once a month to keep the stalks from shriveling. These pictures feature the Thunia alba plant which I’ve had for many years, except for the final photo, which shows a hybrid relative, Thunia Gattonensis, at an orchid show. If you can manage their large size and care demands, these tall orchids are well worth it.
Explore posts in the same categories: Dormancy, Fertilizing, Fragrant Orchids, Growing, Intermediate Growers, Photos, Watering
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