Some of My Novelties

[PaphMadMan]

That's an amazing group of beauties. Hawaii Dragon Girl is the clear stand-out for me.

Does anyone else object to the term "novelties" for these - and I know the word is used elsewhere for orchid types and in some other flowers. It seems to imply these are not to be taken seriously, that they may be of passing interest but aren't significant or important like some other class of hybrids.

[Ben Belton]

Originally Posted by 2011calgal

Can anyone please let me know if the individual flowers of these type last long too, like a month?

A month is a good time frame. Depends on the plant and the conditions. Many will last much longer but don't look as good for that long.

Originally Posted by 2011calgal

Where can I get them?

Most all of these came from Big Leaf Orchids or through the same people he gets his stuff from. A couple were bought in flask or as tiny seedlings. He has some really good offerings right now.

I don't know your experience level, but on eBay jim32830 offers compots of nice crosses on a pretty regular basis. One of the above is from him.

---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:28 PM ----------

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

Does anyone else object to the term "novelties" for these

I was told they were called novelties because the Phals that make the money are the big standard whites and pinks. Few people collect, sell, or hybridize these because they don't make the cash. Hence, they are a novelty in the orchid world as oppose to the mainstay.

Even among hard core orchid hobbyist, many often have no Phals or just 1-2 standards or maybe a bellina or violacea. I have seen threads on other forums in the past of people bragging that they have no Phals because they consider them too basic for a real hobbyist. I don't care myself. I like what I like, and their approval is not needed.

[RJSquirrel]

nice growing ben your head and heels above most of us here and just kill us with these pics. Can you take some like out of focus so we know you are human please?

most of my Big Leaf collection is gone as they couldnt take the heat in the greenhouse over the past 2 summers. But good healthy pedigree plants to start with occasionally make great flowers for us common folk. Flipping noids grow like weeds in the heat in the same greenhouse but few Big Leafs have survived my lack of comfort. I have 1 phal amabilis from peter thats been indestructable. Dont bloom but its not dead yet.

[Ben Belton]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

Can you take some like out of focus so we know you are human please

Awww... ha ha... look at it this way, I can't grow anything except Phals. My Paphs don't look as good.

[Leafmite]

They are all just fantastic!
While I am finding some phals easy to grow from seedling size, I failed with violacea and bellina (and had to buy them mature). I am guessing that the novelties from Big Leaf would take the same skill-level as the violacea and bellina so I will just admire and enjoy the pictures you post of yours. Thank you so much for sharing.

[Oscarman]

Ben,
Do you notice an influence of Phal. gigantea on the speed of growth (slower) or the plant size (larger) before flowering occurs when gigantea is used and a parent with another hybrid?
Such as in the case of your: Phalaenopsis LD Mok Chio (Ld's Bear Queen x gigantea)
or
Phalaenopsis Pylo's Giga Eagle (gigantea x Dragon Tree Eagle)

[Ben Belton]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

They are all just fantastic!
While I am finding some phals easy to grow from seedling size, I failed with violacea and bellina (and had to buy them mature).

Dude (or Dudette) ...... seedling size bellina and violacea can be really hard, so don't feel bad. I think the reason I have had good luck is because I have let mine get too dry. It slows down the time until they mature, but at least most of them make it.

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I am guessing that the novelties from Big Leaf would take the same skill-level as the violacea and bellina

Again, I find violacea and bellina hard also. The hybrids are easier, but any small novelty seems to be tricky to me until about 6" and then it will put out a big leaf and you are home free as long as you are reasonably good to it.

Originally Posted by Leafmite

so I will just admire and enjoy the pictures you post of yours. Thank you so much for sharing.

Thanks. I'll bet you are better than you think. Every now and then Big Leaf has a Princess Kaiulani 'Chin Yo' for sale. Maybe he has one now. Amazing flower and usually around $35 so not bad. I think they are pretty easy and vigorous. Try that one.

---------- Post added at 06:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:53 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Oscarman

Ben,
Do you notice an influence of Phal. gigantea on the speed of growth (slower) or the plant size (larger) before flowering occurs when gigantea is used and a parent with another hybrid?
Such as in the case of your: Phalaenopsis LD Mok Chio (Ld's Bear Queen x gigantea)
or
Phalaenopsis Pylo's Giga Eagle (gigantea x Dragon Tree Eagle)

With the hybrids I think they bloom earlier, but that is relative. They still don't bloom first time on a 4-6" plant like other novelties. It takes a larger plant which, yes seems to take longer to get to. So you are right. They bloom on smaller plants than gigantea, but they still grow slow so getting to that 8-10" takes longer but not as long as getting to the 18" of gigantea.

The first flower of (Tiger Butter x bellina) above used bellina as the pod parent. This plant bloomed for me on a 8" plant that I have had since it was a 2" seedling. The second flower of that cross came from a different source that used the Tiger Butter as pod parent. One leaf of that plant is as big as the other.

Love my novelties. Hope I can get some of you interested.

[RosieC]

So gorgeous