Phal season has finally begun

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

I'm a bit divided on phals. They are lovely when they bloom but they can be such slow growers compared to a dendrobium or a cattleya or even a cymbidium, grows like a weed as I've discovered
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the reason people that have been growing longer grow out of them is I think because they have so little potential compared to other orchids.

I think your opinion is a good example of what was mentioned earlier in the thread, and it comes from a lack of awareness of the Phal family (I'm not judging).

Growing Phal is easy. Growing them properly is another story; like almost all genera.
Most Phal won't do much if they're not grown properly, and you can end up with a very old plant with only a pair of leaves, that doesn't bloom.

A good Phal, given the proper care, has a tremendous potential; it's just that you don't see it often.

In the 10 years time you grow and divide your Catt or Den, you can grow a Phal cornu-cervi that has keikis on keikis on keikis, all blooming.
You can grow a speciosa with 10 spikes, with flowers every day of the year, a bellina with giant shiny leaves that fills your house with wonderful fragrance, or a Phal. pulcherrima var marmorata that becomes a bush of crazy speckled leaves.

Most people don't even know that Phal can be terrestrial, or leafless plants that survive freezing temps.
It's not that they don't have potential, but we usually associate "Phalaenopsis" with "basic supermarket orchid", and it's far from the truth.