Phal Ember *Updated pic on post #30*
 

I posted this flower before but wanted to give an update.

This is one of my favorite plants-- it has so many great aspect-- form, beauty, large blooms that are heavily scented in the warming sun of the morning-- so here it is, Phal Ember

http://ryans.smugmug.com/Nature/Amar...92_tCjan-M.jpg

http://ryans.smugmug.com/Nature/Amar...17_Lxrg7-M.jpg

I didn't know I was a purple flower fan (if you can call this purple) until I got this plant. The color is so eye-catching and rich. What I may have failed to photograph are the intricate spotting all over the petals, which add a splash of exoticism to the bloom. It lives up to its name of Ember by harboring the most brilliantly colored center I have ever seen on a phal. Finally, this plant brings the an intense sweet fragrance in the mid-morning hours-- just as the sun warms the solarium. Our dry Colorado air is transformed into the dewy-sweet air of Hawaii. It no-kidding makes my mouth water when I smell it-- so sweet and delicious!

i want this plant soo bad! yours is amazing!!

Omg, it's so drop dead gorgeous, I NEED to get one ASAP! :drool: Looks like there are 3 spikes on it?

Such wonderful colour!

Wow!!! Another to add to the list.

Thanks, Bob. It's fun to enable my fellow orchidarians! :rofl:

BTW-- How's your Phal Sunflower doing? Mine is growing two spikes and should be blooming within a month or two.

Hi Camille! Yes you counted right-- three spikes. This plant has some sort of violacea or bellina genes in it, which means it blooms off of old spikes, too. The one currently blooming is an old spike-- the other two are new additions this season. I have a feeling this plant will be putting on a stunning show in a few years.

Thanks all-- if you want a plant both Logee's of Connecticut and Hausermann's out of Chicago sell them. Hausermann's has been awarded but I believe my plant is the same as their's-- I've found no other version of this plant besides the one I have. The plants you get are fairly immature but of blooming size. But with proper care, these plants will add several leaves in a single season. I have a second plant that was a sphag-n-bag salvage and once it got back up on its roots, it took off-- very strong grower.

mine is doing well. it is very root happy :) the 3.5-4" pot is FILLED with roots. ill have to repot this spring :) mine is growing well. its working on a 7th leaf. most of mine stay at about 7 leaves. it has 2 baby spikes. but it will be a while before mine blooms. all of my blooming sized phals, except on sulky one, have bloomed or are working on it :)

post pics of yours!!! you are SUCH and enabler! i got the sunflower because of you. it was a great price. what, like 6.99? hows your violacea you got along with it?

Glad to hear yours is doing so well, too! And yes, it was very cheap if I remember. It's a heavy, waxy bloom from what I hear, too-- which means long lasting!

The violacea is growing along but it was a seedling when I got it. Its put on a few leaves by now and they full and round-- very pretty plant. I think Hausermann's incorrectly named it violacea though-- I believe it to be a bellina. No matter-- its beautiful either way. They are very picky plants though-- any set-back is a huge one and takes a long time to recover from. They like to be warmer than standards and need more light, too. So far, mine are growing in moss, which I do not care for! But slow and steady... we'll get there.

I'll be sure to post picks when Sunflower opens.

yes picks please.
this is my first waxy phal. and im excited :)

im interested to see the difference between out two. you have so many great phals, i have a few but not as many or as nice as you, so im interested to compare how much better of a bloom youll get :) your plant is also bigge,r so we will see how it comes out. does yours seem delicate? mine seems delicate for a phal

Ryan your plant is gorgeous. Ember is 50% violacea which would account for the shape, part of the color and the scent. Nice growing! I think Carmela's has a version of this floating around out there too.

Why do you think your violacea is a bellina? Has it flowered yet? That's really the only way to tell for sure. The flowers look completely different....the foliage looks exactly the same. I have one of each and I can't tell the difference without looking at the tag.