Help with Rhynchostylis ID

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Soonix

Im tempted. but in my inexperience i can tell its not a phal either. The leaves are hard not smooth and they are narrow and pointy at the end. The way the leaves grow there is a space between the leaves. Ok now i just had to go and take some more pics. And discovered that the top of the leaves turn green but underneat is still red. Thanks to you i also discovered something that looked like a mealybug
Let me know if anybody has suggestions.

Your input is highly apreciated.

Wow, I did not realize how small that plant is! Bummer about the mealies, too. Some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle should clear that right up. After looking at your pics Im even more convinced that its a Phal. I have a Phal with pointy leaves, a red underside and both Phals have hard leaves. Im not sure what you meant by space between the leaves though.... I took some pics of my Phal Hilo Lip to show you what I mean. You can see the pointy leaves, the red underside and I included a pic of my hand for size reference as this is a mature plant. You'll also have to take my word that the leaves are hard 'cause unfortunately I cannot send a feel test through the internet!

[Soonix]

Well thank you for the info, at least i know now what it is. I see your in Hawaii and some of these came wrapped in Hawaiien news paper. I ordered from a vendor in California. I will send the vendor a nice mail, trying to pull a fast one on me!!
Well at least the Hilo Lip has a nice flower, mine is really tiny, I hope i'll live long enough to see it flower.
Thanks again for all the help.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Soonix

Well thank you for the info, at least i know now what it is. I see your in Hawaii and some of these came wrapped in Hawaiien news paper. I ordered from a vendor in California. I will send the vendor a nice mail, trying to pull a fast one on me!!
Well at least the Hilo Lip has a nice flower, mine is really tiny, I hope i'll live long enough to see it flower.
Thanks again for all the help.

No prob. Just curious, who did you order your plant from? Also, if you like, I have a pic of the Hilo Lip posted in my gallery. Take a look. Its one of the few Phals that I absolutely had to have.

[Soonix]

I ordered from an ebay vendor Heavenly Orchids and I got a total of 8 plants. They were all big beyond my expectations.
Zygo Mackay
Sharry Baby
OncBr Kenneth Bivens
Degarmoara Winterwonderland White Fairy
Herbert Kurihara Pink
Stanhopea Tigrina
Rhyn Gigantea Retusa
"Rhyn Gigantea Red"
I attached pics so you can see the plants

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Soonix

Hi all,

Here i am again, i bought this a Rhynchostylis Gigantea but im not really convinced it is. It has red leaves can anybody tell me what it really is?
Thank you.

Chumy

I have a mature Rhyncostylis Gigantea red and it does exhibit red on the new leaf growth. The leaves of this plant are rather thick and narrower and more elongated than a Phal. and sometimes exhibit a little striping pattern. Mine is planted in an open wood slat basket with large chunks of bark and charcoal. Each year it produces roots that are larger in diameter than the year before. I originally purchased this as a bare root and at that time the roots were similar in thickness to a Phal. but during the past 3 years it has produced roots that are about 1/2" in diam. and they love to dangle in the air. My plant usually drops one bottom leaf a year and this might be due to the thickness of the roots pushing the leaf off the plant. The blooms are a deep shade of magenta and usually occur in Dec. or Jan. I don't have any good close up photos and my husband is out of town with the camera this eve. The posted photo was taken a few weeks ago and the Rhynco is the one on the right front. I'll post a close up as soon as I have access to my camera. Your plant looks like a younger version of mine.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Soonix

Hi all,

Here i am again, i bought this a Rhynchostylis Gigantea but im not really convinced it is. It has red leaves can anybody tell me what it really is?
Thank you.

Chumy

Hi Chumy,

Here are a few photos of my Rhyncostylis Gigantea Red to help you determine if that's what you have. Mine has a pretty pronounced striping on the leaves. The roots are much larger in diameter in comparison to my other orchids but they were much smaller during it's early growth and the leaves were much shorter then too. I hope this was helpful.

June

[Soonix]

Thanks June,
I think i have to go with the Phal option. My plant has no resemblance to the Rhynco what so ever .

Thank you all for your input.

Chumy

[taipan]

Soonix
Although a newbie to this forum, my wife & I ( the flag shows Thailand but I'm from Australia ) have an Orchid nursery in Thailand. The photo is of Rhyn.gigantea "rubicum" which is the red flowered variety & is not a Phally. Also someone listed one of their plants as Rhyn.gigantea retusa. These are 2 distinct species so unless you bought a hybrid between the 2 it is either R.gigantea or R.retusa

[Soonix]

Taipan thank you very much. You happen to have a picture of the Rubicum as I can't find it on google.

Thank you

[cb977]

I agree with Steve...that's a Phal and I think it's getting way too much light. I'd move it into a lower light situation and treat it as a Phal rather than a vanda-type chid.