Vanda Little One.......yup, it's a Phal. now!

[Keysguy]

I just wanted to share this really neat little plant.
If you're a Phal fan but maybe only have a very bright, warm growing space, this could be the Phal. for you.

A primary intergeneric hybrid originally given this name as the cross of (Vandopsis parishii x Sedeira japonica), through the magic of taxonomy the cross is now (Phal. hygrochila x Phal. japonica) and I have no idea what the resultant plant name would be now other than maybe Phal. Little One.
Does this mean I really don't have this plant because it can't exist?
I hate taxonomy!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I grow it with my vanda's under 60% shade cloth where it gets misted 2x/day. I have had it several years and it has annually produced 2 nice flower spikes with cute, heavy, waxy, super fragrant flowers.

Enjoy

[Roberta]

Looked it up... Yup, now it is Phal. Little One. (It was Vandopirea Little One) Just to muck up the picture some more, Vandopsis parishii became Phalaenopsis hygrochila... since there already was a Phal parishii. Sedirea japonica just became Phal. japonica, no conflict there.

By any name, it's really nice!

[Dollythehun]

It looks like it has measles, in a cute way!

[Roberta]

The challenge with lumping these genera into Phalaenopsis... it still grows more like a Vanda. Which is something that one has to know to grow it successfully.

[Keysguy]

The challenge with lumping these genera into Phalaenopsis... it still grows more like a Vanda. Which is something that one has to know to grow it successfully.

That's a great point. If the tag hadn't said "Vanda" I would have put it in the other end of my grow area and it probably would have long ago passed on!

[Lacie]

Wow, look at those roots! And such cute little flowers!
I just got one of these recently and it seems to be putting out a spike which I am very excited about (although it oddly looks sort of like a basal keiki now, so time will tell...).

It looks like you grow yours without media? Can I ask what your watering schedule is? I don't have the humidity to grow it without media, so I have it potted in medium-fine bark and wait until its dry/nearly dry to water. Does this sound sustainable? Light-wise I have it with my Catts and Oncs. Its put out a new leaf and started the spike/keiki since I got it so it seems happy enough, but yours looks SOOO happy I would love any advice!

[Keysguy]

I think what you have should work for your growing conditions Lacie. Sounds like it is anyway.
I actually got this from a grower in upstate NY. He explained how to grow it but if it wasn't in this basket I'm not sure back then I'd have had the guts to do it this way. And you are correct....no media!
It's in the misters with my vanda's. They run for 10 minutes twice a day, roughly 7:30 am and 3:30 pm right now. It's not hanging in the top row but it still gets pretty bright light as you can tell from the color of the leaves.
But remember, I'm growing where it is typically hot and humid and usually pretty windy.

[DirtyCoconuts]

so i have been wondering about this...Phals are prone to occasional crown rot, vandas, not so much, is that only because of the other cultural factors with Vandas such as high temp and light so they just dry out faster?

I mount my phals sideways and my vandas vertically....very interesting to make this switch, like suddenly calling your arm a foot?

[Lacie]

Thanks for the info, keysguy! I'll share mine if it ends up blooming, though everyday it's looking more like a basal keiki than a spike. Until then, I'll enjoy the images of yours in bloom

[Keysguy]

so i have been wondering about this...Phals are prone to occasional crown rot, vandas, not so much, is that only because of the other cultural factors with Vandas such as high temp and light so they just dry out faster?

I suspect that it's more a temp issue when went. So many Phals are cooler growing and everyone and their mother grows them under every conceivable growing condition, right? My guess is in tropical areas you get very little crown rot even if potted top up, particularly if you have good air flow. If it gets water in crown at 60 degrees and sits there for 5 or 6 days, guess what will happen?
BTW--- phals I have mounted are crown side down. For vanda's, Bob Fuchs once told me that if they are mounted on trees, they should be set at an angle with the crown pointing toward either 2 o'clock or 10 o'clock. He felt they just bloomed sooner in that orientation but wasn't sure why except maybe it gave the roots a better "hold" angle.