Species Vs. Hybrid

[chips]

Could someone explain the difference between keeping care of a species Phal and a hybrid Phal? Does the species need more care, different living conditions? Harder to care for?

[jkofferdahl]

The basics are pretty much the same. However, some species can be pickier about growing conditions than are hybrids, hybrids being bred and rebred so that they lose some of the original conditional needs.

[Cookiemonster]

Species will often require more specific conditions-and may be less tolerable to extremes in comparison to a hybrid. Emulating their natural environment as best as you can is your best bet in keeping it happy.

Some species of cattleya such as (bowringiana) and dendrobium (kingianum) can take more of a beating !

Good luck

[orchidsamore]

With Phalaenopsis there is very little difference in care.

With Dendrobium and Cattleya species can be more temperamental, but I find little difference with Phal species.

[ToddsterVonCattMan]

Originally Posted by orchidsamore

With Phalaenopsis there is very little difference in care.

With Dendrobium and Cattleya species can be more temperamental, but I find little difference with Phal species.

I'm with Jerry—I've found Phal species to be very forgiving and practically as easy to grow as hybrids; quite unlike some of the Cattleya species that can be more fussy about culture than Cattleya hybrids...

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

In my opinion, medium to large sized Phal species that don't go dormant and deciduous are the same as growing Phal hybrids. The preference for species Phals is to grow them mounted. However, certain species can also be potted (the exception being the leafless species or the ones that go deciduous - these must be mounted).

Just as a reminder, if you've never succeeded in growing any Phalaenopsis potted, it is a cultural issue. My recommendation if this was ever the case for you would be to grow them mounted.

In my experience, mini Phal species tend to be a bit touchier.

Species that go dormant/deciduous must have dormancy observed otherwise they'd die in the long run.

[chips]

Thanks

I was just curious. Whenever I am in a greenhouse they seem to put a lot of emphasis on "Oh that one is a species, are you sure you want that one!" So I thought maybe there was a big difference. I have no problems growing Phals, so I may give a species a try.

Any recommendation for my first?

[OzPhal]

What Phal species are deciduous?

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

In my opinion, medium to large sized Phal species that don't go dormant and deciduous are the same as growing Phal hybrids. The preference for species Phals is to grow them mounted. However, certain species can also be potted (the exception being the leafless species or the ones that go deciduous - these must be mounted).

Just as a reminder, if you've never succeeded in growing any Phalaenopsis potted, it is a cultural issue. My recommendation if this was ever the case for you would be to grow them mounted.

In my experience, mini Phal species tend to be a bit touchier.

Species that go dormant/deciduous must have dormancy observed otherwise they'd die in the long run.

[RosieC]

I wondered the same as OzPhal, I've never heard of deciduous Phals... but then there are plenty of orchids I've not heard of.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Phal braceana, Phal lowii, Phal taenialis, Phal wilsonii

They're considered the leafless or deciduous Phals. These can grow leaves, but can also drop them too without the plant being dead.

They behave like overgrown Chiloschista sp.