New species discovered in St-Anaclet (Well, new to me)

[metalop1g]

Last week, along with a Paphiopedilum Berenice, I got three species seedlings. No, they are not new species, but they are litteraly new to me.

• Phalaenopsis Violacea var. Coerula
• Phalaenopsis Cornu-Cervi
• Phalaenopsis Amboinensis
  
  
  

They are 1 inch high and are potted in black square 2 inches pots. The media is sphagnum moss. They all have at least 2 good roots, and all of their roots are green and healthy.

What I don't like about them right now is the sphag moss and the black pots, because i wat to see the roots forming.

What I want to know:

• The growth habits of the three plants
• The differences between the 3
• Can I grow them together at the same temperature and humidity
• Will it hurt them if I repot em while they are young
• Can i pot them in fine bark with a bit of sphagnum moss
• Will their roots grow as fast or as fat as an hybrid phal?
  
  
  
  
  
  

And please, if you talk about the flower, I don't really care about the colour, or the patterns. I'm more interrested in their number, the number of flower spikes, if they last, if they are serial bloomers, etc. I'm more interrested by the growth rate of the new babies than their flowers, since they will only flower in a while.

Anybody, please participate. I don't expect anybody to answer all of my questions, but just one answer would be great.

[metalop1g]

I repotted my little babies yesterday in the night. Then, I realised the only 2-3 roots they each had were flask roots. I wonder how I could help them make new roots? They are now in new clear plastic pots so i can see the roots growing (if they grow :\ )

They are under a 60w exo-terra sun-glo, is it too much?

[jkofferdahl]

I can speak to each from my own experience, which may possibly differ from those of others. All three are, of course, Phal species. In my collection all three grow together quite nicely. Phal cornu-cervi is among my favorite Phals; it will likely be the smallest of the three plants, and will be considerably smaller than either of the others. Amboinensis and violacea are, in my own description, "floppier" in habit, while cornu-cervi grows fairly erect and sturdy. I've always potted my Phals is a mix of bark and Aliflor, though with young seedlings I would use some sphagnum for the additional moisture. All three grow relatively fat roots, though my cornu-cervis seem to grow the plumpest of the three; in my conditions they grow roots relatively quickly, but I think that root growth rate has as much to do with conditions as anything else.

I've not used the light you mention. Mine grow on windowsills, receiving bright morning light, with mid-day and evening being less of a direct sun.

Cornu-cervi grows flat, branching flower stems which sequentially open smaller, yellow and spotted blooms. If you are lucky you may get some nice fragrance from yours. Don't cut off flower stems when blooming stops, as cornu-cervi will rebloom from the same spike for years. The violacea you have will grow a short spike which will open, typically, one flower at a time, and is known for it's fragrance. Amboinensis also grows a short spike, with a yellow and barred bloom which is considerably larger than that of cornu-cervi.

[metalop1g]

Thank you jkofferdahl, that's the kind of answer I was looking for.

How much time should I wait before new roots make their way out of the plant? I just repotted in 100% sphagnum, the highest quality I ever saw!

[Bird Song Farm]

Originally Posted by metalop1g

How much time should I wait before new roots make their way out of the plant? I just repotted in 100% sphagnum, the highest quality I ever saw

Root growth will depend on your conditions and what you water with. If at all possible start using some KLN (a rooting hormone) with each watering. I'm glad to see you moved them to S. moss. Babies that small will do much better in the moss.

It will take a few weeks for them to become established, i.e., happy in their new homes. Then you should see some root growth along with new leaves.
Remember, orchids and patience go hand in hand.

Good luck, I like your choices and jkofferdahl did a great job of answering your questions. He has some terrific species phals.

Al

[JonnyBravo]

watch out for that 60W sun-glo. it's incandescent not fluorescent, right? those bulbs are awesome for reptiles, but may not be so great for plants. they put out a lot of heat compared to the light produced- once you move it far enough away from the plants to prevent burning them, you may not be giving them enough light. i have very little experience with artificially lighting plants and someone else could point you in the right direction there, but i've used the heck out of exo-terra products for herps and just think it might end badly with too much heat or not enough light.

[metalop1g]

Would a repti-glo 5.0 (13W) be a better option? This one is fluorescent, but yes, the sun-glo I use is incandescent. I also slit holes in the plastic pots, and saw one root turning from white to brown...

what am i doing wrong, I just seem to always mess up with sphagnum moss!