Phal Venus (maybe this should be in hybrids?)

[SundayGardener]

I acquired a Phal Venus (lindenii x equestris) last year about this time...it was shipped a long distance in a little spagh and I wasn't sure if it would make it. It has proven to be quite the water hog, robust and very rooty (unusual for my growing conditions, which don't seem to inspire an abundance of air roots).

It is currently blooming, and I am delighted.

[Mountaineer370]

That's very nice! Would you mind sharing a bit about your growing conditions? Indoors? Supplemental lighting? Potting medium? I'm curious because I'm in a similar zone (5b), and I'm always looking to learn from people who are growing beautiful Phals.

[SundayGardener]

That's a nice compliment! Unfortunately, I don't have that much experience and I find phals a challenge. I have had 3 or 4 that have just done really well.

My conditions are Wisconsin, cold dry winters, fairly humid but usually not too hot summers. We have old radiator heaters, so no forced air but winters are still dry. Last year I moved the phals to the warmest room in the house. Phals always give me trouble when we transition to winter, and again when we slowly inch towards summer.

This particular orchid I have off to the side under a single T5HO bulb, in bark in a clear plastic pot. I have to keep phals in clear plastic or plastic net pot so that I can see the roots at the bottom--this helps me not overwater them. They get orchid fertilizer weekly

Last year, I moved most of the phals to semi hydro and they adapted quickly. Then I lost quite a few to a suspected virus and I'm still monitoring others. I've had good experiences with equestris. This Venus is just a happy plant. It took off, and has delightful thick roots that cling to everything (I can't get to the label anymore because a root is glued to it). I'm not doing anything special for it.

I had another NOID that just went gangbusters, lots of basal keikis, frequent bloomers. It got the virus. I still have it, and the keikis are separated now, but they are isolated from the herd. Anyway, the conditions were the same, potted pretty tightly in a small clear slotted plastic pot so I could see the roots, water only when the roots turned silver/dry looking.

Honestly, I have found laelia cattleya hybrids to be far easier to care for than phals, which I did not expect for Wisconsin.

Picture is of the Venus on its shelf. You can see the phal next to it with kind of ratty lower leaves, but that's another one with big fleshy roots that does well (but refuses to bloom). The Venus has long kind of floppy leaves like floppy rabbit ears, so I have it in a second pot that lifts it a little higher. Usually I let the leaves drape over the side. It's a cool plant and has been much more tolerant of changes in temperature/humidity than my other finicky phals.

[Mountaineer370]

Thanks for the info! I was curious because I'm in a similar zone (SE Michigan, 5b). It's funny, but so far my experience has been that Phals are the only ones that do well in my particular indoor growing conditions. I, too, have the best luck putting them in clear, slotted plastic pots. All of mine are in bark; I'm not sure S/H would work in my situation. Sorry to hear about your virus issues. I hope that is resolved now.

[SundayGardener]

I work with someone whose husband grows huge, show quality phals in their basement, under lights.

It sounds like the larger determining factor in what I have been able to grow and bloom is me, with environmental conditions taking a back seat. Orchids with highly visible roots and weed-like growth habits definitely fare better in my hands.