Phal. Wiganiae
 

My Phal. Wiganiae strikes again, but this time the spike is 83 cm long (32.7") and it has 41 flowers. The spike got too heavy, or rather, the previous skewer I had was too short, so the spike broke when it had opened about 17 of the buds. I did a master "repair" of the spike, and it seems to have actually worked! :D

I'm considering cutting the spike as soon as it starts to get a bit brighter here in Sweden again, since the plant has so few leaves. I think the problem is that I misinterpreted the information about the mottled leafed Phals, and thought they should have LESS light. I have now learned that this was wrong. I'm worried the plant might bloom itself to death if I don't do something about it (the root system is humongous though, but it still needs leaves as well).

Here's the monster spike:

http://www.neovita.com/orkideer/bild...69329.orig.jpg

http://www.neovita.com/orkideer/bild...69330.orig.jpg

http://www.neovita.com/orkideer/bild...69331.orig.jpg

Awesome spike. Very pretty too.

Kim

Wow it's longer than my noID phals is. Mine is only 24 inches long. It has very cute little blooms I love the color nice and soft.

I use I think they are called curly willow sticks. I get them from the florist and they can curl around and help hold up the spike with out it being straight.

I think they look more natural. You can see one on my thread about my first phal to bloom. I can if you want get a better picture as I don't think you can see it very well in that thread.

But from the looks of your orchid it would have worked pretty well with how your spike goes outward.

I usually don't stake the spikes on my Phals (I'm too lazy, and the spikes usually don't get this long), but I had to on this one... I'll see if I can find some better looking skewers/stakes/whatever the proper name is till next time it flowers. Thanks for trying to help me out though. :biggrin:

Wow! Now that is a spike! Great growing!

Trust me, more spikes with some plants and flowers attached to them are on their way... They really went for the length of the spikes, these Phals (my stuartiana, me big schilleriana, and this guy...). :p

That is so beautiful!