Phal season has finally begun

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by SADE2020

I want to see that collection list

Species I currently have, by alphabetical order:
amboinensis

bellina (coerulea)
cochlearis
cornu-cervi (flava & chattaladae)
deliciosa (hookeriana)
finleyi
gigantea (normal & alba)
hieroglyphica
hygrochila
javanica (normal & alba)
kapuasensis
lobbii (indian form)
lowii
lueddemanniana
mannii (flava)
mariae
natmataungensis
pallens
pantherina
schilleriana
stuartiana
sumatrana
venosa
violacea (normal, alba & indigo)

Originally Posted by JScott

One of my favorites is Sogo Yukidian 'V3', and the spike is so big that it takes forever from the time the spike emerges from the time the first blooms open. Then when it's done blooming, it takes two or three months off, and then spikes again, which means it blooms at a different time every time. It has just started its latest spike, which means the flowers will probably start opening in the fall. The flowers last easily for three months, then it takes a couple months off, and spikes again, so next time it may be december before it blooms again. You just never can tell with that one. It does whatever it wants.

Nice! How big is that plant? It must be a specimen to be flowering that much!

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Species I currently have, by alphabetical order:

OMG Nice list!! I'll check them all, I don't know a few of them!

[JScott]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Species I currently have, by alphabetical order:
amboinensis

bellina (coerulea)
cochlearis
cornu-cervi (flava & chattaladae)
deliciosa (hookeriana)
finleyi
gigantea (normal & alba)
hieroglyphica
hygrochila
javanica (normal & alba)
kapuasensis
lobbii (indian form)
lowii
lueddemanniana
mannii (flava)
mariae
natmataungensis
pallens
pantherina
schilleriana
stuartiana
sumatrana
venosa
violacea (normal, alba & indigo)






Nice! How big is that plant? It must be a specimen to be flowering that much!

It's the biggest Phal I have. Not necessarily by leaf count, but definitely by width. From leaf tip to leaf tip, it is easily 20 inches wide, if not bigger. It is my favorite white Phal, and I personally think it is the best of the white phals. The blooms last forever, and the flowers are huge. I think everybody who loves Phals should have this plant. And additionally, it tends to reliably produce a secondary spike after all the flowers fall of the first one. I think it is probably in bloom about 6 months out of the year.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Species I currently have, by alphabetical order:
amboinensis
bellina (coerulea)
cochlearis
cornu-cervi (flava & chattaladae)
deliciosa (hookeriana)
finleyi
gigantea (normal & alba)
hieroglyphica
hygrochila
javanica (normal & alba)
kapuasensis
lobbii (indian form)
lowii
lueddemanniana
mannii (flava)
mariae
natmataungensis
pallens
pantherina
schilleriana
stuartiana
sumatrana
venosa
violacea (normal, alba & indigo)

That's an impressive list! I was looking at my collection, and I think I have fewer species than you, but have a lot of primary hybrids. The cornu-cervi and cochlearis are 2 which are on my wishlist.

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by JScott

One of my favorites is Sogo Yukidian 'V3',

I have a Sogo Yukidian, but I am not sure if is V3 or V4 Flowers are like 30cm big, but the falling spike is what I like.

2021
This year will be the 4th bloom in my hands. (so is like 6yrs old)

(no pic yet, I'll let it grow a bit more before sharing)

2020
In this pic is the 3rd bloom, it grew about 50cm with like 25 flowers, but broke while tutoring down, I actually cried a little.




2019
This is the 2nd Bloom, spike like a 40cm but flowers dropping in cascade abut +30cm = Total 70cm



2018
This is when they gave it to me for a birthday (I don't have a good pic): The spike was huge with the flowers like 130cm in cascade

[JScott]

Originally Posted by SADE2020

I have a Sogo Yukidian, but I am not sure if is V3 or V4 Flowers are like 30cm big, but the falling spike is what I like.

2021
This year will be the 4th bloom in my hands. (so is like 6yrs old)

(no pic yet, I'll let it grow a bit more before sharing)

2020
In this pic is the 3rd bloom, it grew about 50cm with like 25 flowers, but broke while tutoring down, I actually cried a little.




2019
This is the 2nd Bloom, spike like a 40cm but flowers dropping in cascade abut +30cm = Total 70cm



2018
This is when they gave it to me for a birthday (I don't have a good pic): The spike was huge with the flowers like 130cm in cascade

That really is a nice white Phal. Give it time to mature and reach its maximum capacity. Mine is about ten years old. You're looks very nice, but I bet it will only improve with age, with bigger, longer lasting flowers, with longer spikes with more blooms. I'm no AOS judge, and I'm not even an expert of any kind, but just in my personal opinion, this is the best clear white Phal there is.

---------- Post added at 11:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 AM ----------

And just a hint that may work for me, but not for others: when my plants start to bud in the summer, I move them back inside under the T5 light set up. I feel like I get bigger flowers with richer color that way. I don't know why, but I feel like it may have to do with temperature and light. The intense, long day light without burning are good for the color, and the lower temps are good for flower size and shape. That could be completely off, but it has been my experience that when I move budding plants back indoors under the lights, I tend to get nicer blooms.

[camille1585]

Shadeflower, thanks for sharing your perspective on Phals, it's interesting to hear the other side, even if I somewhat disagree! What I find interesting is that the things that make Phals or Oncs/Catts appealing (or not) for both of us are opposites. I wouldn't say that Phals grow slow, it's just that they grow vertically instead of horizontally. I prefer Phals for the same reason you dislike them. While I do have some Phals/Oncs, I dislike that they get increasingly larger and need to be divided and or otherwise repotted into ever larger pots. Phals stay compact and rather low maintenance. Unlike you I find them to be the easiest type to grow, though this is subjective and largely dependant on climate and cultural/watering habits.

I like Catt flowers (not the floofy types), but think the blooms don't last long enough when I consider the space they take up. Mini Catts are the exception, but there's not much selection for those here, compared to the USA.(I've been drooling over SVO crosses). Therefore I prefer giving my limited space to orchids which bloom for months on end (Phals!). If you get the right rights, they can be fragrant too.

It's true that it would be nice if more Phal species/hybrids readily make keikis, but I'm also quite happy to NOT be drowning in an endless supply of them.

[Mr.Fakename]

Nice job, tetraspis isn't that easy!

Be careful with summer light on that Phal, they are deep shade plants and sulk when it gets too sunny for them.

[SADE2020]

I really love Phals, I have all kinds, colors; hybrid and species, big, mini... I enjoy the flowers, the structure and how beautiful and elegant they stand.

I have Phals all year round and they decore every corner of our house.

[Roberta]

The long blooming life of Phals is one of their very attractive features. How many orchids will stay in bloom for 3, 4,5, or more months? OK, there are a few (like some special Dendrobiums)... but most of them are MUCH harder to grow, MUCH harder to find, and MUCH more expensive. (A Den. cuthbersonii can theoretically stay in bloom for 8-9 months... but is much more likely to die than to do that!)

Once you master their cultural needs (and @SADE, you certainly have!) the beauty and grace of Phals is so very rewarding!