Originally Posted by peterlin (Post 832454)

Phalaenopsis species are quite diverse.

I like to divide them into 3 groups

Cool Dry Winter Group - C
braceana, hainanensis, honghenensis, finleyi (minus), stobartiana, taenialis, wilsonii, gibbosa, lobbii, and parishii

From NE India and East into Southern China Mountains
winter Temperature 45 F if leaves are kept dry at night
Most are small deciduous species do well mounted or in small pots

Moderate Winter Group - M

Larger Plants
amabilis, aphrodite, philippinensis, sanderiana, schilleriana, and stuartiana
Smaller Plants
celebensis, lindenii, equestris, pulchra, fasciata, lueddemanniana, hieroglyphica, bastianii, pallens, mariae, micholitzii, and reichenbachiana.

winter Temperature 50-60F
only moderate amounts of water but increased light
will tolerate periodic night time lows of 40-45F with leaves dry and roots slightly moist


Warm Winter Group - W

amboinensis, bellina, doweryensis, fimbriata, floresensis, gigantea, javanica, luteola, maculata, modesta, robinsonii, venosa, violacea, corningiana, inscriptiosinensis, speciosa, sumatrana, tetraspis, cochlearis, fuscata, kunstleri, viridis

winter Temperature 60-75F
extra moisture on the roots but not the leaves.
maybe kept cooler (45-55F) and less moist but they are more susceptible to significant bacterial infections and loss of roots, growth is halted, and reduced flowering.

Finally there is the smallest phalaenopsis species Phal appendiculata. This species came from Malaysia. It needs to be kept warm, and moist at all time. It's suited for indoor grower. Because it is small, it expires easily if condition is not ideal (too dry, too cold).