the ease of species care - Orchid Board

philoserenus · #1 12-01-2007, 04:25 PM

im thinking (again) of buying one or two species from a local vendor for the holidays as gifts and i am just wonder how picky are species compared to hybrids in terms of cultural expectations.

the noid i got from walmart just never ceases to stop producing blooms... but i'm getting hooked onto phal species like cornu-cervi, hieroglyphica, and viridis.

are their care relative the same as the one i got from walmart? currently it sits at beside a huge south window in hydroton

thanks

CodiMN · #2 12-01-2007, 06:40 PM

I've heard from other members that some species are actually easier to care for. Not sure if this is because they have been around longer and hence more people have studied their behavior, OR if they are just more hearty in general.
I say check your growing conditions and find a species that fits well into your normal regime.

Good luck to you!

Phalguy · #3 12-01-2007, 06:49 PM

Hello Nick!

I know your feeling about phal species.... they are fascinating.
I grow mostly Phal species and some hybrid in S/H culture and they all share the same growing condition, although the condition change radicaly if you are at 6 inch from the light or at 10 inch, same if you are near or far from the humidifier.
Phal species have the reputation to be picky and stuburn but as soon as you get them the right spot to grow, they will will give you lots of spike and blooms. If only my Phal violacea could read this message.....

Brooke · #4 12-01-2007, 06:57 PM

Try growing your P. violacea a little warmer. I love my species.

Brooke

quiltergal · #5 12-01-2007, 08:08 PM

I only have 2 species but both are doing well for me and share the same conditions as my hybrids. I have P. bellina x violacea, and P. equestris. The P. equestris is like the Energizer Bunny....it just never stops blooming and I hear when it's not blooming it kicks out keikis like a maniac. My bellina x violacea has not rebloomed yet but it just finished growing a beautiful new leaf. The others on my wish list are bellina (w/o the violacea), stuartiana, schilleriana, deliciosa, hieroglyphica, lobbii, mannii, and the list goes on into infinity. LOL

philoserenus · #6 12-01-2007, 08:45 PM

thank you guys for the encouragements

and maybe itz just that they have around longer and more people have taken the time to study them =)

and as for the conditions, i think i've finally started to see a pattern in the temperatures

in the summer, itz generally 22-32*C here... yes i know its warm... and the winters are usually 14/15-22*C so i guess im the intermediate (leaning to the warmer) grower, ya?

i kind of like the flat-spike star-shaped phals more than the multibranching phillippeans species like schillerana. eg. cornu-cervi, hieroglyphica, fuscata, etc

Lagoon · #7 12-01-2007, 09:41 PM

I hope you get atlease 1 Nick. You will see their care is as easy like any other phal.
I understand what your saying, I prefer the species, love the shapes much more. I will clear one of my shelves of the hybirds for phal species next year. I'm having space issues and will only grow what totally thrills me.
And thats the way it should be

Go nuts Nick!

Phalguy · #8 12-01-2007, 10:09 PM

Phal species are fascinating by there shape, color fragrance.

have you seen the Phal cornu-cervi chattaladae......

take a look: chattaladae.com: Phalaenopsis cornu-cervi fma. chattaladae Photos

I want one! !!!!!!!!! I need this one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phalguy !

Lagoon · #9 12-01-2007, 10:22 PM

This one is fabulous!!!! We need to do some cross border shopping. Its gonna be YEARS to get those here from our vendors

My wish list is longer then the list I already grow ...

philoserenus · #10 12-02-2007, 01:58 AM

phalguy--yes i have spent some time surfin and reading about the curnu-cervi fma. "chattaladae". it is definitely a rarity amongst the real world i tell you. but definitely i do not think getting our hands on this would be easy in the many years to come.

lagoon--i will definitely try to get one (make it my christmas gift to myself if i hafta). despite the vendor being not too far from me, i cant get there... about a 20 minute drive on the highway... sadly saying in this weather i cant bike or walk it (poor baby's gonna freeze, haha); im still learning to drive, haha... and no buses go there. so i'll probably hafta get someone to drive. we poor university students only bus, haha.