Phaius vs. Gigantea & Other Big Orchids :)

[HiOrcDen]

So I really like the idea of having at least one super tall Orchid plant, and one with massive spikes.

I have seen something called the Red Tower, which seems to grow over 10'! I have also seen a Phal White which is also very tall, with smaller flowers of the classic White Moon.

These big plants I've noticed tend to have simpler flowers, but I do like the White Phal I mentioned, that it still has the complex flowers.

Anyway, I want to know about the kind of mass of growth of Phaius vs Gigantea Orchids. Are there any Orchids, whether Phaius, Gigantea, or otherwise (of course I know about Tigers overall massive, and Miltoniopsis have large flowers too) with the best of three worlds, if you will haha, like a big mass of growing spikes, as well as large flowers and leaves, and more intricate flowers? I know this is a simple kind of curiosity haha, but I would like to have at least one plant which has these features in my collection!

[Roberta]

If you want "tall" that also grows well in your climate, consider Sobralia caloglossa. 10 ft is still young... Gorgeous flowers (though you need to get o a ladder, use binoculars or a long camera lens to see them up close... the ladder also lets you appreciate the fragrance.) If you have a deck that is high enough off the ground so that the flowers are at eye level, even better.
http://orchidcentral.org/Images/Sobr...caliglossa.jpg
http://orchidcentral.org/Images/Sobr...%20in-situ.jpg

You do need a fairly large vehicle to get it home from Andy's ... can't be shipped. Andy's also has some other very nice species of similar size if he doesn't have this particular one in stock. Sob mandonii is of similar height, big magenta flowers. Softer canes, Andy claims that he got one into a Prius (take out the stake, wind it around) but Sob. caloglossa has large stiff canes, so you need a long enough vehicle.

[Leafmite]

Phaius are large but not huge.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Phaius are large but not huge.

Phaius are also challenging to grow in the dry southern California climate - they like wet and humid a lot more. They may get huge in south Florida, but that's not where the OP lives.