Are mini phals young orchid plants? or..?

[LightsCameraFlowerspike]

Hi everyone!

I've been wondering this for a bit.. are miniature phalaenopsis orchids just young orchids? Will they eventually grow to be large like the mature ones you can find in the stores?

[cbuchman]

There are in Phals that are bred to be tiny and remain that way. That said, it is not unusual for someone to sell "mini-Phals" that are really young plants that will be significantly larger when mature. Always good to question the vendor!

[Leafmite]

My Phal deliciosa and Phal equestris seem to be staying on the smaller side. The deliciosa is sending out multiple spikes (first time it is blooming) which surprised me as I thought it was far too small to bloom. Both are said to be smaller Phals, whatever that means. :|

[Ordphien]

Some are mini. I find most are just young though.

[AnonYMouse]

Flowers or whole plant? There are some leaf to bloom ratios that are disparate.

Gigantea is as the name implies. Appendiculata fits nicely in the miniature catagory. I think there is one even smaller but I can't remember at the moment.

[gngrhill]

I have about 10 noid mini Phals that are minis. They don't get bigger. 4 of them are in spike now. I've had them a couple of years and they have grown new leaves, but are still very small plants

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Flowers or whole plant? There are some leaf to bloom ratios that are disparate.

Gigantea is as the name implies. Appendiculata fits nicely in the miniature catagory. I think there is one even smaller but I can't remember at the moment.

I think you're thinking of Phal gibbosa or Phal thailandica. Not sure if they're synonyms of each other or 2 distinct species.

Phal appendiculata is actually a fairly decent sized miniature orchid. Each mature leaf is really supposed to be about 2" - 2.5" long on a mature, blooming sized plant. I've read accounts that this species can have each leaf grow to be about 3" long, but I don't believe that any of the ones I've attempted to grow in the past were ever that large.

The word "mini" gets thrown around a lot in the orchid hobby that it is now difficult to tell what's what anymore. However, some Phals are genetically true to being small plants at maturity. Then there are others that are marketed as mini's but are actually young Phals that will eventually get large. I think that it is usually best to address the orchids by their names to figure out which ones are true minis and which ones are young plants of larger Phals being sold as minis.

[snowflake311]

I have 3 "mini" noid and one I have had for 4 years. They stay small. Mine is the same sice as the day I got it.

I think it is safe to say most small orchids stay small.