Characteristics of Phalaenopsis Ludao Xishi Big Tongue and How to Solve Petal Spotting

Today we introduce a Phalaenopsis variety bred by a Fujian grower - Ludao Xishi. It has a rather sweet color scheme, with clearly defined petal veins, and overall it is a Phalaenopsis with an ethereal look that is also easy to grow.

Specifically, looking at the details of Ludao Xishi, after the flowers fully bloom they can reach more than 20 flowers per spike, and each flower measures around 8.5~9.5 cm, placing it in the medium-to-large flower category, while the leaves are about 20 cm long, and measuring from the pot rim to the first side branch the height is about 20 cm. In terms of the petals, it belongs to the soft pink group, and also carries a slight purplish-pink base tone, with a petal texture that has a faint pearlescent shimmer. As for the lip, it is a big tongue, the color is a rose red, the tip has a somewhat half-fishtail shape, and there is a yellow wart-like structure in the middle. Overall it is beautiful with looks that hold up, and what is special about Ludao Xishi is that on petals that have not fully opened there is a bit of a backward-curl state on the back, while fully opened flowers become flat on the back, very cute.

However, the petals that Phalaenopsis takes such pride in are very delicate. If improper care occurs, or water droplets drip onto its petals and are not wiped off in time, a yellow mark may be left on the petals, and this mark is commonly known as "gray mold." Generally speaking, when Phalaenopsis gets this disease the flowers are the first to be damaged, because its petals are thin and delicate, and the surface cell tissue is very fragile, making it the most vulnerable to pathogen attack. So, if gray mold appears on the petals during care, what symptoms will show?

In general, if you find the petals wilting and discoloring and losing their original vivid color, it may have caught gray mold. Afterward the petal condition will begin to show brown spots, and then the petal texture will gradually become abnormally soft. In severe cases you may also find the whole flower rotting, bud blast and other falling conditions.
At this point, preventing and controlling Phalaenopsis gray mold is the primary measure. First, promptly place it in a well-ventilated environment, and do not keep it in a humid area any longer. Second, regularly clean up those flowers and leaves that have already withered, to reduce the gray mold pathogen infecting other healthy flowers. Finally, you can buy some disease-resistant agents to prevent and control gray mold.