My Monster-sized Phal - Orchid Board

susiep · #1 02-24-2008, 03:50 AM

This is a huge phal that I got this past summer as an orphan. It was left in a backyard for months, maybe years. It has 3 small plants growing underneath the big one and they are so intertwined it may kill one or all of them to separate them now. They have a total of 4 bloom spikes so far (30 buds and growing) with lateral spikes on 3 of the spikes. I think it could end up with 60or more blooms. The biggest leaf is 13 inches long and 4inches wide. It weighs 8 pounds! I am going to move it into a big wire basket with cocoa lining when it is finished blooming. This is my first try at posting pictures and they aren't too good. I have to keep it in my bathroom because it takes up too much room in the orchid house. With the bloom spikes it is 36" wide X 26" deep X 25" high. I love this crazy plant!

Bird Song Farm · #2 02-24-2008, 05:46 AM

Love it, love it! Shows what can happen when nature is left to its own devices! Sometimes I think we mess with our plants too much.
Let it grow on............
Al

camille1585 · #3 02-24-2008, 07:47 AM

WOW!

I've never seen such a monsterous phal before. It's gorgeous. It will be quite a sight when all the blooms are open.

Maybe you should leave it that way if it's fine. It would be a shame to divide such a beautiful plant!

rhw7879 · #4 02-24-2008, 10:54 AM

wow..
that is a huge plant..

Rob

GreggC · #5 02-24-2008, 11:08 AM

your pic posted. Yes, it is a magnificent specimen, indeed!

Marianne Decker · #6 02-24-2008, 12:17 PM

Hi - Great plant! I have a phalaenopsis with exactly the same flower coloration and love it. I have potted a keiki from it which has now bloomed twice with three adorable blooms about 2" in width. What is your large 3 in 1 plant planted in? (Is it in a mix, and what is it? Or maybe it can't be located through all the leaves!

susiep · #7 02-24-2008, 01:40 PM

Thanks! It is in an 8" square wood basket with very old moss, however most of the roots are outside of the basket. When it is finished blooming I will cut away part of the wood basket and remove the moss, then move the whole thing to a big wire basket with a coco liner and add some orchid bark/mix. I would send more pictures but I can't figure out how to attach them to this message.

stonedragonfarms · #8 02-24-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susiep

Thanks! It is in an 8" square wood basket with very old moss, however most of the roots are outside of the basket. When it is finished blooming I will cut away part of the wood basket and remove the moss, then move the whole thing to a big wire basket with a coco liner and add some orchid bark/mix. I would send more pictures but I can't figure out how to attach them to this message.

Heya Susie
Keep in mind that roots that are growing out in open air often dislike being put into media (ask anyone who grows Vandas about this...) I too think that you might want to rethink the repotting plan. I would leave it as it is and let it grow. Phals in nature are epiphytes and it is growing as it was designed to grow. Why ruin a good thing?
Adam

puddin · #9 02-24-2008, 01:54 PM

That's beautiful! That will be a site to see when it's in full bloom. I'm with the others, I wouldn't repot it. It's just fine how it is. Enless it's showing signs of distress, which it's not, I would leave it alone.

susiep · #10 02-24-2008, 02:01 PM

I hadn't thought about that. I have quite a few vandas so I am used to crazy roots. I could just set it in the wire basket without the coco liner and let the roots hang through. I still want to get rid of some of that old moss. Moss doesn't work well here (for me any way). It doesn't dry out enough in the rainy season.