Phal.Lobbii - Orchid Board

nenella · #1 02-04-2009, 04:06 PM

Just have to share my excitement...
Got this little baby last spring, started forming a spike at the beginning of November last year and this is how it looks now.... and I Can't wait to see the blooms!
by the way the first photo is in august last year, the second November & the third a few days ago...voilà...

WhiteRabbit · #2 02-04-2009, 04:22 PM

thats great!
I would like to have one of these but my luck with phals isn't so good
can't wait to see yours in bloom!
good growing!

Tindomul · #3 02-04-2009, 04:59 PM

I love this guy. For me it has never really stopped blooming. However one of the ones I have decided it was more important to bloom than it was to grow. So now I see a slow die off of leaves without replacements, but its still blooming.

Tindomul · #4 02-04-2009, 05:01 PM

By the way, if you love this one you will love Phal. parishii, and the hybrid between those two, Phal. Lovely Kid. And you should try Phal. gibbosa and Phal. deliciosa, Phal. chibae.

whygreenberg · #5 02-04-2009, 05:13 PM

Awesome, Nenella! Can't wait to see the pics when he blooms!

nenella · #6 02-04-2009, 06:10 PM

Thanks Tindomul for the list of others!
I think I've fallen in love with Phal. parishii...and,
It's now on my next to buy list! except I need to get myself an other bottle to grow it in!
Yvan & Whiterabbit I will definitely post photos when it decides to bloom..
Tindomul, I have a 'stupid' question ...how do you decide to keep it blooming? more % of Potassium in feed???
Can I also pick your expert brains on the subject about the amount of leaves? As I had read they lose their leaves...but mine has increased without losing any..??? I'm a total novice with this species and have not got the foggiest on what's right or wrong?
Thanks!

Tindomul · #7 02-04-2009, 06:53 PM

I did not decide to make it stay in bloom, the plant did, and I don't know why.

This species is considered to be semi-decidous meaning to say it has the ability to survive droughts in its natural habitat by shedding its leaves. Leaves are very costly to maintain in terms of water consumption. This does not mean that you have to give this species a dry period. So, there is no need for this plant to loose its leaves except to old age. At least I don't think so.

Brooke · #8 02-04-2009, 08:12 PM

Tin I thought they lost leaves because of temps, not from lack of water. If grown warm enough they won't lose leaves and can be watered year round. By warm enough I mean 60 and above.

This is a great family - my parishii hasn't bloomed or even given me a spike but my deliciosa is in spike now. I've never bloomed it and can't wait. My lobbii is getting ready to bust out.

Tindomul · #9 02-04-2009, 11:23 PM

Nope, its due to dry season and wet seasons alternating in their habitat.

"The leaves are normally deciduous in their native habitat, which is subjected to a pronounced monsoonal climate of alternating wet and dry seasons. In cultivation the leaves are normally evergreen"...(not deciduos)..."Growers with less than optimal growing conditions may grow these species on the cool and dry side during the winter rest."
---Phalaenopsis A Monograph by Eric A. Christenson

I also have my P. deliciosa in bud now. Can't wait to try out my new camera on these teeny tiny flowers.
I aslo have my P. parishii, P. lobbii, P. Lovely Kid in spike/bud. It must be the time of year or something.

Brooke · #10 02-05-2009, 08:56 AM

I guess I grow mine in optimal conditions :>) The only dry season it receives is on days when I have no sun. If it is sunny, the mount gets watered.

Brooke