Frys Phal's
My wife likes Phal’s the best, so when she found these on sale at Fry’s (a local grocery chain) for $10 each, she brought home a few. I have to say, they are in outstanding condition for “grocery store, home improvement store, etc” plants. They have terrific root systems and the plants are hearty and healthy, and were just beginning to bloom, with many buds left to open. They obviously made it from grower to store very quickly, with no time for the usual neglect and abuse that plants from these sources normally suffer.
I do have several plants from these “store” sources, and sometimes you can find amazing things among the “usual suspects” (which these Phal’s are); but they are often a rescue project, even though they may be worthwhile plants.
Since all of these "store" plants have been forced to the max, even if not abused, I like to give them a little R & R after they are done blooming. With Phal’s, I always cut the spike, and don’t let them re-bloom out of the same spike. This gives them about a year to re-group before they bloom again. Often they will need re-potting, although these look O.K. to stay in thier pots another year.
Ed
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