In praise of mini phals.

[bil]

Well, I have to say that I have been impressed with these. They don't take up as much space as their big brothers, but if anything they flower better and longer.

Take the white one. That has flowered all summer, and just as I thought its season was over, it threw another spike, and then two more.

It's difficult to see, but the other two plants are smothered with tiny flower buds.

These were on sale for 3-5 euros each, and IMO worth every damn penny. I picked up another 4 this summer, and already they are spiking. It's looking like they are going to be real stars too.

Just a shame that they are sold with their roots butchered and then rammmed into an eggcup packed with moss. Surprisingly, if you pot them up into a wider, shallow pot with fine bark and nothing more, they soon start thrusting roots out in defiance of their previous bad treatment.

[My Green Pets]

wow that's a branching machine you've got there! nice!

[DeaC]

Yes,they are very satisfying for me as well. If I'm buying noids,I look for the more unusual colors and am usually successful keeping them happy! Merry Christmas.

[PaphLover]

Agreed! Love minis. A lot of "wow!" for such a small plant.

[soobie]

I like the minis better than the standard phals as well. I picked up a pretty yellow one this fall (Phal. Sogo Twinkle Golden). I repotted it in loose sphagnum and Hydroton, and it's doing great!

[bil]

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

wow that's a branching machine you've got there! nice!

Yeah, that one is impressive. There's well over 80 young buds on that one alone, which is a hell of a return for the money.