personal experiences with paraphalaenopsis

[philoserenus]

hi for anyone who is looking for cultural tips on paraphalaenopsis, i think it is obvious that there are very few and very mixed results. i have surfed through all the literature that are posted online from english orchid websites and forums to ones in china and taiwan (aka. in chinese)

i am just wondering if any growers here would care to share some of their growing experiences and set ups with this genus of orchids.

there are 4 species and i one i came by is the smallest of the 4--serpentilingua. i currently still havent got the serpentilingua and i dun wanna borrow other's people pictures for show and tell, so please bare with me for being a picture-less starter tread

thanks

[cb977]

IOSPE PHOTOS

Not much info but it does show that it likes high temps

[talyce66]

Wow! would I like to get ahold of one of those! Looks like they like to be mounted, but unlike the regular phalaenopsis, where are the leaves? Or are they just not showing? Anyway, that is gorgoeous!

[philoserenus]

<<sry about the 2 previous posts, my browser messed up so i thought they froze but it seems like it still posted, can someone tell me how to delete them?? thanks>>

yes, they are intermediate to warm growing from wat i have researched. likes moisture too. mounting does seem to be common with it.
but for me in Toronto and in a home, mounting doesnt seem to be the way to go, so i've gotta find some other way of growing it... in a pot with some moss i guess or just leave it in hydroton without the reservoir and just water everyday.

talyce66 -- the leaves are tarete (in the chinese name for this particular genus of orchids translates literally into 'rats-tail orchid' owning its name to the leaves). the leaves are also long and pendulous. related to the phalaenopsis indeed. and definitely should be easy for u to get a hold of one seeing u come from florida. i read they threive there b/c the climate is very close to their natural environment in borneo

here, i'll provide some links for u guys to enjoy how these beauties

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the seperntilingua is known to be the smallest of the four species with the labukensis being the largest with mature leaves being up to 2 metres in length.

but then again research never beats real experience from people who have grown it so this is why i started this tread ^^ hopefully when i get mines, i'll be able to add a little more to it =)

[cb977]

Hi Nick

I deleted those posts for you

Talyce...these beauties are a member of the Vandaceous group, although the name leads us to believe they're like Phalaenopsis!

They like to keep us on our toes, don't they?

[philoserenus]

thanks sue ^^
seems like there aint that many people who grow these eh? seems like itz a quiet genus... they do seem fairly available in the states though, i'd thought more people would be growing these

[Neverend]

I don't grow them, but from what I've heard, they're more of warm to hot growers (preferring temps from 25 to 34 degree Celsius) and they need a lot of sun to grow.

Maybe the rest can give better information.

[Shirley]

Most interesting and intriguing, Nick! This is a genus that I don't think I've ever seen or heard of, but the pictures on your links are beautiful. Looking forward to more photos of your plants in bloom.

Shirley

[philoserenus]

haha thanks

well i'm hoping to pick it up over the holidays, so i guess i'll snap some pictures when i get the chance after i get it. i hope no one gets to it before i do, the vendor only has one in stock, and i hope its in good conditions too

vancouver's a great place to be growing orchids (or anything plants for a matter of fact). i was there is summer for 2 weeks for a vacation by myself and i visited one of the intown vendor. oriental orchids, i believe they were called. pretty cool place ^^

[Jumpluff]

i have a labukensis...but i am living in a subtropical climate so i can provide a better environment for it.
i afraid if it can grow in toronto without a greenhouse in winter.
actually if the temp is below 18 degree celsius something, it nearly stop growing.
4 paraphals are easy-growing in tropical..big sunshine..high temp..moist.