Phalaenopsis equestris - care questions

[quietmorning]

I've picked one of the orchids I want to put into my bathroom - (finally!) once it's finished, but I'm finding precious little about it on the net.

I'm mixed as to whether this is a compact plant or not. In some places it looks like it might be, in others, I'm not so sure, looks like a medium to large size plant. Are both compact and medium/large available in this type?

What is the culture/care for this orchid? Is it like most Phal's - low to medium light, water when not quite dry. . .good air circulation - bark soil?

I'd appreciate your input - don't want to kill it as soon as I get it home!

Thank you!

[boytjie]

Hi Beth, equestris is compact - per se. The bloom spikes often produce keikis or "baby" plantlets which, if tucked into the growing medium, increase the plant size substantially over time, giving you basically an equestris colony in one pot. Of course you can always separate them when they're big enough (roots at least 1" long) and have more equestris.

Otherwise, care is much the same as other Phal species. I grow mine in a mix of sphagnum moss and small pine bark to help keep the moss from compacting, and water when the moss fees completely dry on top. Others here may have very different growing conditions, thus different growing medium, watering habits, etc.

[quietmorning]

Originally Posted by boytjie

Hi Beth, equestris is compact - per se. The bloom spikes often produced keikis or "baby" plantlets which, if tucked into the growing medium, increase the plant size substantially over time, giving you basically an equestris colony in one pot. Of course you can always separate them when they're big enough (roots at least 1" long) and have more equestris.

Otherwise, care is much the same as other Phal species. I grow mine in a mix of sphagnum moss and small pine bark to help keep the moss from compacting, and water when the moss fees completely dry on top. Others here may have very different growing conditions, thus different growing medium, watering habits, etc.

Thank you, Stephen! I'm excited that it is a compact, I was hoping it was!

What is the typical pot size you place a compact in? I've been picking up three inch pots for my compact orchid plans - is this big enough? Too big? It will go onto the window sill of a north facing window. . .will it need extra lighting? (the phal I have is doing well there, but probably will need lighting during the winter.)

[boytjie]

Originally Posted by quietmorning

Thank you, Stephen! I'm excited that it is a compact, I was hoping it was!

What is the typical pot size you place a compact in? I've been picking up three inch pots for my compact orchid plans - is this big enough? Too big? It will go onto the window sill of a north facing window. . .will it need extra lighting? (the phal I have is doing well there, but probably will need lighting during the winter.)

Both my equestris are in 3" slotted plastic pots. Fine for now, but when the keiki machines start kicking in, they might need to go bigger. As for north-facing, I couldn't say for sure. I've got a big white hybrid Phal in a north-facing window, and it seems to do okay, but my equestris are growing under lights on my orchid shelves.

[quiltergal]

I think there might be quite a bit of variation on plant size. I've got one that is about 3yrs old and it's as big as any of my other Phals. The only thing compact about it is the size of the flowers!

[quietmorning]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

I think there might be quite a bit of variation on plant size. I've got one that is about 3yrs old and it's as big as any of my other Phals. The only thing compact about it is the size of the flowers!

**laughing** oooooooohhhh!! That's good to know!

[quietmorning]

Originally Posted by boytjie

Both my equestris are in 3" slotted plastic pots. Fine for now, but when the keiki machines start kicking in, they might need to go bigger. As for north-facing, I couldn't say for sure. I've got a big white hybrid Phal in a north-facing window, and it seems to do okay, but my equestris are growing under lights on my orchid shelves.

Thanks, Stephen! I guess this there's always a little bit of experimenting when you get a new orchid, huh? I'll try the new one in the window, and if it does fine, I'll leave it, if not, I'll transfer it under the lights.