Any ideas on genus?

[Junebug]

Here are some photos for comparison. My guy has striped leaves but this may not be true of all Rhyncos. It is a Vanda type. I can't imagine a Phal. surviving in large grade charcoal without water for any length of time. However, the Rhynco is a hardy variety that will tolerate less than optimum growing conditions for extended periods of time. I hope this was helpful.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by taipan

Sorry Junebug but they are either a Doritis or Phal hybrid - inclined to say Doritis. Rhync's have a distinct "notch "on the end of the leaf.

I saw your quote after posting. Thanks for the ID infor (notched leaf distinction). You learn something new everyday.

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi tiapan,
I have to admit I did not take into consideration Aussie42's location.
However, the basic care would still be the same.
I 'assumed' he was growin just a few 'chids in the house.

Aus,
No matter where or who you get information from, you have to use what you can for your conditions and 'throw the rest' out the window.

Good luck and still keep us informed,,,,,,,,I hope you can get these nice plants growing well for you.
Al

[taipan]

Originally Posted by Junebug

I saw your quote after posting. Thanks for the ID infor (notched leaf distinction). You learn something new everyday.

Hello Junebug
No prob,s I have dozens of Rhyn.gigants & retusa & Doritis.

[taipan]

Originally Posted by Bird Song Farm

Hi tiapan,
I have to admit I did not take into consideration Aussie42's location.
However, the basic care would still be the same.
I 'assumed' he was growin just a few 'chids in the house.

Aus,
No matter where or who you get information from, you have to use what you can for your conditions and 'throw the rest' out the window.

Good luck and still keep us informed,,,,,,,,I hope you can get these nice plants growing well for you.
Al

No Prob,s BSF. I spoke to a well known Vanda breeder in Florida some months back & asked him about the relative latitude of Homestead Florida to an equal place in Aust. thinking it would be around Cairns. However he said that it was around Mackay which is not that far nth of Brisbane. Also bark is getting very expensive & more people are turning to various grades of coconut chips to grow orchids in

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi tiapai,
I think the majority of people grow their phals in bark but the coconut chips would work fine. I guess the cost factor comes into play if you have 100's of plants or just a few. Myself, I can't grow anything in bark.

I grow almost everything in spagh moss.

AL

[taipan]

BSF
I rather like Sphag or a mix containing it. However we cant get good stuff in BKK & it seems to break down very quickly over here. I use a bit mixed with "forest moss" to put on top of my Bulbo's mix as it retains a bit of moisture - even it the hot climate. Most of the other genera (Vandacous )are placed in an empty basket either plastic or my personal collection are grown in wooden baskets with a few bits of coconut added just untill the plant becomes established.

[Aussie42]

Thanks very much folks, and for the pictures Junebug.

I have 200 plants growing under a tree that I believe in most places provides about 60-70% shade (I have sunnier and shadier positions available). Pics of my setup are here:

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...tml#post116374

Watering restrictions lets me water 3 times per week, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday between 5 and 7 pm. Buckets or watering cans only, no hoses, so I use a watering can. I've cut back on my fertilizer quantity, I was using 1/4 strength multipurpose fertilizers for most waterings but am now using 1/8th 1-2 times per week.

My worry about bark - I have a 25 litre bag of the stuff in the shed - is root rot. I suppose I've got to get to grips with it eventually, but... That and being in the city it's hard to find good clean charcoal in bulk. We used to go out bush after fires and fill up a trailer when I was a kid but it's miles to the nearest scrub around here.

I can say these plants have probably been in charcoal their whole lives at grandma's place. I suspect she was given one plant many, many years ago and it's divided 5 times. In fact, two plants arrived in that little clay pot in the picture and it had obviously divided, either via a keiki or whatever means some time in the past.

Oh, they were all re-potted in December but the possums knocked over the one in the clay pot a while back and I just nudged it back into place a fair bit higher than it was formerly.

So I'll absorb the greatly appreciated advice and read up on Phals - great culture information, thanks for the link Al.

Gotta go get the barbeque ready, we've got guests coming for lunch and I'd better get cooking.

Cheers,
Aus.

[Ross]

I'm thinking since you are from Australia that this may be either Sarcochilus or possibly Angraecum. Maybe A. didieri. The reddish underside is a giveaway for high light with Angraecoides.

[Aussie42]

Hi folks. The lamb is happy in the Weber and I've been having a look around the net. And...I started with the suggested names, geuns etc and somehow got side-tracked.

Anyone familiar with Doritis? I came across a site that said Doritis have a reddish tinge to the underside of the leaves, and kept going along those lines. Some of these images look very, very close to my little critters...particularly the second photo on the first link below, looks very much the same:

Bloggang.com : appendiculata191 : á¹Ç·Ò§¡ÒþѲ¹Ò¡ÅéÇÂäÁéÊ¡ØÅ Doritis µÍ¹·Õè 4 ÁéÒÇÔè§á¤ÃÐ

Roses,Lilies,Orchids,Hibiscus,Tulips,Carnations,Ir is,Daisies,Pansies,Snapdragons,Daffodils, Mums,mos,Morning Glory,Blossoms,Marigolds,Petunia,Portulaca,Amaryll is

http://www.evasgalerie.at/orchideen/...%20doritis.jpg

The plants I have could quite conceivably have been in my family for 35+ years so they could be - is "heirloom" the correct word? Oh, and the discussion I came across was here:

Phal vs. Dtps? -

Just throwing it out there - what do you think? Could be a phal/doritis cross, of course.

Cheers,
Aus.