Phalaenopsis tetraspis var. alba.....my first Phal species!
 

I just purchased this Phal from bigleaforchids.com!! I'm excited over it as it's my first phal species ever!!!

I am trying to go back to my roots, so to speak, and I have determined that growing different types of orchids is just not for me. Too many types of cultural requirements and too much time. It makes for very unhappy plants and a very unhappy Maria. So, I've decided to stick with phals, catts, Laelias and Renantheras. That's it. If it falls outside of these categories, Maria isn't growing them.


I can't show you a picture cause I've not received the plant and Mr. Lin took it off his website already. He indicated to me that it was 1-2 years from flowering and that it likes drier conditions. Any other tips?????

Congratulations on your first species and warning, species Phals are addictive :biggrin:.

Tetraspis is great. I have 2 cultivars and both are just blooming fools. I havn't found them to be any different than the other Phal species I grow and both seem to be quite vigorous. Don't let it dry out too much when blooming. I lost a couple buds when I was gone over the holidays because they got too dry. Plants are okay and more buds a-comin' :banana::bananaslide:. In fact it looks like a bud on the 'C #1' is going to have spots :dance13:.

Susan

Congrats, Maria. I'm sure you'll do just fine with it. Stick it with your other Phals that are doing well, you can adjust from there if needed.

I had to limit myself too. I'm trying to shift from being a mediocre grower with a huge variety to a good grower focusing on certain groups. So far it's helped but I still need to narrow things down more.

Good for you Maria! You sure picked a nice one to start your species collection with! Sure hope mine come around this year. All my phals, whether species or hybrids run about 2 months behind everyone "down south".
Sue covered your question I think.

Royal:
I like your thinking! Trying to do the same. When I lose one now I don't necessarily replace it. I guess it's a good thing but I don't lose very many. LOL So will be awhile before I get down to a managable size collection. Will probably sell off some this summer.

Al

Thanks for the good wishes!! I'm excited to be getting it...the pic of it looks beautiful and I have a special place in my heart for albas of anything.


Yes, as Royal noted, I don't want to be mediocre at collecting lots of orchids when I think I can be an exemplary grower of a few genera. :)

I just gave away about 1/2 of my collection (I'd say about 45-50 orchids), so I'm starting relatively fresh. I just have laelias, catts and a few renantheras. Oh, and my beloved Eulophiella seedlings. The rest I've given away to a good home and I hope the new owner will be able to grow them much better than I have.

It's a constant challenge to limit myself, but I just feel I'll be happier doing so. Everything is so beautiful though. It's hard. :)

Well... tetraspis var alba doesn't exist... in facts tetraspis is really variable... sometimes you will have red spots, and the next flower will be white... but to have a real tetraspis var alba, the lip should be white too... and i never saw this...

I have several tetraspis... one always got red strips, one never (but lip is coloured), and the last one have both type of flowers on the same stem...

Maria, Welcome to the species club! I do enjoy a few hybrids but really like the species.

i saw some all-white tetraspis yesterday (including lip, not even a spot of colour there), but didn't get any as i'm more interested in the normal one from my last visit to the nursery. i did get a normal tetraspis though... and a venosa, an amboinensis and a hieroglyphyca. dunno whether the last two spelt correctly or not? plus a pulcherrima x equestris in shade of blue. and i come just to buy a tetraspis and a phaius tankervillae, and bring back about 10 chids??? hope mr husband didn't count how much chid i actually have coz i also don't know... the all white tetraspis is sure in my next shopping list, together with fimbriata and pulchra...

Congratulations on your first species. I bought my first just a few weeks ago and it's really exciting. Hope yours grows well for you!

Natasha, Maria and Rosie, I hope your growing experience with Phal. species is long and enjoyable.

Al