Phal Stuartiana - difficult to grow?

[Louis_W]

Do you have a link to the listing? You should figure out if it is a species or a hybrid. Generally speaking, hybrids are easier to care for, but if I was trying to buy a species I wouldnt want to get a hybrid by mistake.

[WaterWitchin]

If it was seller Ardent Orchids on Etsy, they have a "Phalaenopsis Stuartiana f. Tipo '802' x Stuartiana f. Nobilis 'Nan'" hybrid, and show the one you were looking at as sold. I know nothing about the seller or the quality of their products.

I would be a bit leery about buying from a seller who doesn't know how to label their orchids (as Ray pointed out) or understanding what you're buying (as Louis pointed out) unless you just like the particular plant and don't care.

As an example, if you see an orchid labeled (correctly) Phalaenopsis stuartiana f. tipo '802' x stuartiana f. nobilis 'Nan' it means it's a primary species hybrid: stuartiana f. tipo (a species) x (x=crossed with) stuartiana f. nobilis (a different species). It's even a little more complicated than that simple explanation, but that's enough to absorb for the moment.

Nomenclature of orchids especially is quite the rabbit hole to jump down. I normally don't get very involved with it... just enough to be semi-literate. There are many here much more well-versed than I.

Just pointing it out, because if you're new into orchids learning the basics of it will help you a lot in figuring out what you're actually purchasing. And if I'm way off base with presuming what you know and don't, I apologize. It just appears maybe you didn't understand.

[Arne]

Well, if the plant is labeled Phalaenopsis stuartiana f. tipo '802' x stuartiana f. nobilis 'Nan', then it is a species, that's it. One of the parent is a particular variant, namely f. (forma) nobilis. The other parent is a typical stuartiana (tipo).

[harrefr]

Thanks for explaining the nomenclature, @Ray @WaterWitchin and @Arne…I am definitely a beginner when it comes to understanding the naming. I am looking for a hybrid Stuartiana, one that is rather compact in size as I have limited space right now. And I have also heard from others that the species can be a bit difficult to grow and bloom…but not from anyone in this forum. Maybe I should seek out the species stuartiana (lower case s this time ) instead, now that I know the exact name to search for!

Thanks again everyone. You all have been super helpful, as always!

— f

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Arne

Well, if the plant is labeled Phalaenopsis stuartiana f. tipo '802' x stuartiana f. nobilis 'Nan', then it is a species, that's it. One of the parent is a particular variant, namely f. (forma) nobilis. The other parent is a typical stuartiana (tipo).

Correct... crossing two color forms of a species (or even two botanical varieties of the species) , the result is still the species, not a hybrid. The result may not look familiar to a pollinator, but that's the rule...

[camille1585]

Just a small clarification, Phal stuartiana is a species, there is no hybrid with the same name (with uppercase S). Phal Stuartiana is simply incorrect spelling of the species name. The cross you were looking at was still a species as both parents are Phal stuartiana, just with different forms of it.

If you want an easy related Phal, I strongly recommend Phal schilleriana x stuartiana (this cross is named Phal Wiganiae). It's easy, very forgiving of a wide range of conditions and while it's not a small Phal it's not a large one either. I'm not too sure what you mean by 'compact' size when it comes to Phals.

If you want some small and relatively easy Phal species, have a look at Phal equestris (a sequential bloomer), Phal mannii, or Phal pallens for example.

[harrefr]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Correct... crossing two color forms of a species (or even two botanical varieties of the species) , the result is still the species, not a hybrid. The result may not look familiar to a pollinator, but that's the rule...

Oh, ok, now I understand. The naming in the ad listing is seriously flawed!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by harrefr

Oh, ok, now I understand. The naming in the ad listing is seriously flawed!

Vendors who don't follow the conventions are, unfortunately, common. That sloppiness would give me pause given the price, though... For a plant so expensive, I'd hope it would come from a more knowledgeable vendor.

[harrefr]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Just a small clarification, Phal stuartiana is a species, there is no hybrid with the same name (with uppercase S). Phal Stuartiana is simply incorrect spelling of the species name. The cross you were looking at was still a species as both parents are Phal stuartiana, just with different forms of it.

If you want an easy related Phal, I strongly recommend Phal schilleriana x stuartiana (this cross is named Phal Wiganiae). It's easy, very forgiving of a wide range of conditions and while it's not a small Phal it's not a large one either. I'm not too sure what you mean by 'compact' size when it comes to Phals.

If you want some small and relatively easy Phal species, have a look at Phal equestris (a sequential bloomer), Phal mannii, or Phal pallens for example.

Oh wow, thanks for the recommendations, Wiganiae is beautiful…and with mottled leaves! I will definitely seek this one out. By ‘compact’ I mean a rather small grower. Almost like the ‘just add ice’ orchids.

---------- Post added at 08:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

Vendors who don't follow the conventions are, unfortunately, common. That sloppiness would give me pause given the price, though... For a plant so expensive, I'd hope it would come from a more knowledgeable vendor.

It is very tempting, I must be honest. It is so pretty! But calling it a hybrid when in fact it is a species…and for 60$…I’m not sure they know what they are selling…which means I don’t know what I am getting.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by harrefr

It is very tempting, I must be honest. It is so pretty! But calling it a hybrid when in fact it is a species…and for 60$…I’m not sure they know what they are selling…which means I don’t know what I am getting.

Best to just wait, I think. There are a lot of reputable vendors (check out the Vendor Feedback sub-forum for some good ones, and some warnings about not-so-good ones). Be patient... vendors don't have everything all the time, they're not Amazon (thank heavens!) but post new listings as they get them. One never knows what they may have just waiting to get big enough to sell .