Minis are all spiking!!! :)

[NYCorchidman]

The one with a spike loaded with tiny buds are from Whole Foods in January. so it's about time I guess. It is dark magenta, which is one of my favorite phalaenopsis color. and it is branching this time!!!
It has more buds than when I bought it so I'm super excited!

The one next to it came from a local farmer's market last summer. It had flowers that are as big as the plant itself almost! very unique white blushed with pink.
Somehow, it suffered and the top two leaves that grew under my care are shockingly small.
I saw some root action and I loved the flower so much that I kept it and was willing to give it more time.
but hey, look what I found today. There is a spike coming out!!!

The one in the last picture is from TJ last year. It kept on blooming for a long time, then it worked on leaves which got bigger and bigger each time.
I didn't see any spike in November and put the plant right up against the window to get it to "wake up" and it is now behaving nicely. lol
I'm very anxious to see the flowers on this one because last time it bloomed half peloric and half normal.

[NYCorchidman]

This one is one of those that are supposedly mini, but not so mini. lol

I guess the ones above are tea cup mini (plants are less than around 4in across), and this one (reaching about 9 in across) is mini?

Anyways, you can see there is a little branching going on near the top of the old spike and then the second picture shows the new spike.
This one also has a large flowers.

Large phals are always the first to spike. I have one already in bloom and the other two are about to pop the buds. earlier than last season by one month.

[magicatt]

Aw, I'm so jealous of you! Only one of my phals are spiking. Yours look so crisp and healthy. Good growing!!

[seaj]

I would consider any phal with a leaf span less than 8-9 inches a mini. Most of the small phals I come across measure in at around 8 inches, which is still very compact compared to most, but I'd prefer tiny plants like the ones you have.

[quiltergal]

I have discovered that sometimes when a Phal is described as a mini they are actually referring to the flower size, not the plant! Anyway, nice job!

[seaj]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

I have discovered that sometimes when a Phal is described as a mini they are actually referring to the flower size, not the plant! Anyway, nice job!

Yeah, it's confusing when they do that. Usually I read the description to see if a plant is blooming size by the time it is in a 3 inch pot or smaller. That's the guideline I use anyway, though I've never bought plants online to test it out.

[NYCorchidman]

That really is confusing then.
So mini refers to the flower size.

By the way, I saw beautiful phals at the Whole Foods the other day that I almost bought. I picked it up and put it back down a few times, but ended up not getting it. lol

It had lots and lots of tiny little pink flowers on two multi-branching spikes. very tempting.
Then the plant itself was rather large. At least 10 in across.

The biggest mini I have, which is the one in the second post, is getting bigger and bigger in plant size each time it grows a new leaf.
The flower is about 4in across, so it's pretty big for the plant.

Then again, standard phals are over 20in across. lol

[quiltergal]

Mini does not always refer to flower size........just sometimes. LOL I think the growers like to keep us guessing!

[NYCorchidman]

Dang, it is really confusing then. lol

[Wild Orchid]

Gorgeous and very healthy looking plant! I'd be only very cautious about leaving any drops of water near the crown so not to cause the crown rot. Personally, I only mist the roots and leaves' undersides, never the entire plant but this is just me.