TIOS Phalaenopsis Photos

[Katsols]

That's plain amazing, how do they get the orchids to flower so numerously and cascade down like that. Does it happen with more mature orchids?

[Cattleya17]

Originally Posted by Katsols

That's plain amazing, how do they get the orchids to flower so numerously and cascade down like that. Does it happen with more mature orchids?

From what I understand you need a greenhouse. That's because in a greenhouse environment you cave complete control over the climate and they use this heating and cooling method or cooling and heating I can't remember.

Maturity is a factor as well, the plant with that huge spike is a pretty old looking plant.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by Katsols

That's plain amazing, how do they get the orchids to flower so numerously and cascade down like that. Does it happen with more mature orchids?

Originally Posted by Cattleya17

From what I understand you need a greenhouse. That's because in a greenhouse environment you cave complete control over the climate and they use this heating and cooling method or cooling and heating I can't remember.

Maturity is a factor as well, the plant with that huge spike is a pretty old looking plant.

It's a combination of the two. It starts with perfect growing conditions. The growers keep them warm, with temps seldom below 80*F at night dipping a tad lower sometimes. This inhibits them from initiating spikes and makes them become super strong healthy mature plants. They do this for a few years. Then once they finally decide to let it spike, they dip the temps down to initiate them. Since the plants are now so large, mature, and have so much energy stored up, they put on a huge show, sending multiple spikes. Once the spikes grow and set buds and they grow to a certain size (I cannot remember the exact size though) they put the temperatures up again, to make the spikes keep growing longer. Once the spikes grow longer and get more buds, they repeat the warmth period. They do this multiple times, creating super long amazing spikes!

[Bolero]

Call me bob is right on the money, it's all about temperature control. When the spike starts growing if you keep the temps up they continue to grow quite large. Who can afford the expense though?

[NYCorchidman]

The super long cascade in one of the pictures, those are bred for that particular trait.
No matter how much temperature control or how old the plants get, "regular" phals do not ever make that many flowers.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

The super long cascade in one of the pictures, those are bred for that particular trait.
No matter how much temperature control or how old the plants get, "regular" phals do not ever make that many flowers.

While I'll agree that breeding does play some part in it, the temperature control does affect and create these massive spikes. For instance, hybrids such as P. Sogo Yukidian 'V3' and P. Mount Lip 'FANGtastic' have HUGE magnificent spikes as seen in photos from previous TIOS years, and now that they have made their way to the states, we can see that it is not only breeding that gives HUGE spikes.

[Bolero]

Originally Posted by Call_Me_Bob

While I'll agree that breeding does play some part in it, the temperature control does affect and create these massive spikes. For instance, hybrids such as P. Sogo Yukidian 'V3' and P. Mount Lip 'FANGtastic' have HUGE magnificent spikes as seen in photos from previous TIOS years, and now that they have made their way to the states, we can see that it is not only breeding that gives HUGE spikes.

Yes I agree with you Bob, speaking with Nurseries at the WOC in Singapore and TIOS Taiwan it does make a big difference. It's not usually possible without the temperature control.

[Carpe Diem]

Thank you for the pictures! Beautiful flowers!

[NYCorchidman]

You didn't understand my statement. I said no matter what you do to the regualr phals, you cannot get such long spike UNLESS it is in their genes.

I didn't say the super long spike is only due to the genes.

I also didn't say anything against temperature control, which is a big part in manipulate the spiking of phals.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

You didn't understand my statement. I said no matter what you do to the regualr phals, you cannot get such long spike UNLESS it is in their genes.

I didn't say the super long spike is only due to the genes.

I also didn't say anything against temperature control, which is a big part in manipulate the spiking of phals.

Noted. Depends on what you would classify as a "regular phal" the mericlones commonly found at grocery stores do have the potential to produce a display that size! Any standard phalaenopsis does!