Phalaenopsis gigantea - long term growing project

[Roberta]

Oh, and don't try to rub off the white coating on Rhyncholaelia glauca or digbyana. That belongs there too... sunscreen.

[tmoney]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

That plant would give me nightmares! I'd be trying to rub scale off the leaves with my alcohol and Qtip all day long!

ha! yeah, but it is pretty cool foliage. reminds me of begonia.

sort of steering it back to the gigantea side (sorta), camille, are you producing and selling those pots yet?? it would be nice to try one next summer

[K-Sci]

This is an update on the P. gigantea I posted about in early September. The first photo was taken today today (11-20-2021), the second one was taken 2-1/2 months ago (9-8-2021). All three are putting out new leaves. The largest has developed a few new roots that are running throughout the pot. The seedlings don't seem to have as many root, but still growing well. The seedlings are growing in sphagnum, the larger one in a mixture of 50% bark and 50% LECA.

I could easily be wrong, but an early impression, having grown these for only about 3 months, is that the slow growth rate of this species may result from extended inactive periods between when a leaf matures and when the next one begins growing. The leaves on all three if these appear to be growing at a normal rate.

Now - all three have new leaves coming in.


9-8-2021 - None of these plants had a new leaf coming in.




-Keith

[Mr.Fakename]

Nice work Keith, looking good! What are the temps in your greenhouse?

[camille1585]

Nice looking plants Keith, they've grown well for you!

I have not noticed that my gigantea spends more time inactive than other Phal species. I get 1 or 2 new leaves per year, though it seems to take longer for the leaf to fully develop (not surprising given the leaf size!). My impression on growth rate is that they grow at a similar speed as other Phals, but because they need to be much larger in order to bloom, they need to produce more leaves to get there which adds years to their juvenile phase...

What have other gigantea growers noticed in terms of growth rate relative to other Phal species?

[desirue]

I had posted in the beginner thread regarding a question about my Gigantea Alba about repotting due to some questionable media it was in. I did end up repotting it early last week. It seems to have taken to the repot and new medium really well thankfully. Its new leaf is still steadily growing and a new root and what I think (hope?!) is a flower spike started to poke through as well. It's hard for me to get a good picture of it with my phone; I may try again later tonight in better light. But I'm excited nonetheless, even if both are roots.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Nice work Keith, looking good! What are the temps in your greenhouse?

The temperature was running 95F day/75F night at the time of my first post/pictures of these three plants. The temperature is now about 75-80F days with 60F nights. This will most likely end up being around 70F daytime and 55F night in mid-winter. I have some misgivings about letting phalaenopsis get this cool for a month or two so I'll be watching these plants very closely.

-Keith

---------- Post added at 08:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by desirue

I had posted in the beginner thread regarding a question about my Gigantea Alba about repotting due to some questionable media it was in. I did end up repotting it early last week. It seems to have taken to the repot and new medium really well thankfully. Its new leaf is still steadily growing and a new root and what I think (hope?!) is a flower spike started to poke through as well. It's hard for me to get a good picture of it with my phone; I may try again later tonight in better light. But I'm excited nonetheless, even if both are roots.

I love hearing about people's successes! Which one do you think may be a flower spike?
-Keith

---------- Post added at 08:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:12 PM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

Nice looking plants Keith, they've grown well for you!

I have not noticed that my gigantea spends more time inactive than other Phal species. I get 1 or 2 new leaves per year, though it seems to take longer for the leaf to fully develop (not surprising given the leaf size!). My impression on growth rate is that they grow at a similar speed as other Phals, but because they need to be much larger in order to bloom, they need to produce more leaves to get there which adds years to their juvenile phase...

What you said makes a lot of sense. Growing at the same speed in mm per month will take a plant with one foot leaves three times longer than one with 3 inch leaves. This could explain why P. Gigantea seems to grow at a normal rate versus other phals when small. That said, my larger plant sat doing nothing for the first 6-8 weeks.

One good thing about this thread is that it can document growth when we would otherwise be relying on our recall and impressions.
-Keith

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by desirue

I had posted in the beginner thread regarding a question about my Gigantea Alba about repotting due to some questionable media it was in. I did end up repotting it early last week. It seems to have taken to the repot and new medium really well thankfully. Its new leaf is still steadily growing and a new root and what I think (hope?!) is a flower spike started to poke through as well. It's hard for me to get a good picture of it with my phone; I may try again later tonight in better light. But I'm excited nonetheless, even if both are roots.

That thing on the right certainly looks like one to me! Some people will be jealous if that's the case

Originally Posted by K-Sci

The temperature was running 95F day/75F night at the time of my first post/pictures of these three plants. The temperature is now about 75-80F days with 60F nights. This will most likely end up being around 70F daytime and 55F night in mid-winter. I have some misgivings about letting phalaenopsis get this cool for a month or two so I'll be watching these plants very closely.

When I took the plants back inside for winter time, nights were around 55°F/13°C with occasional dips around 10°C.
I was a bit afraid at first but with decently warm days, they were happily growing and spiking.

Originally Posted by camille1585

I have not noticed that my gigantea spends more time inactive than other Phal species. I get 1 or 2 new leaves per year, though it seems to take longer for the leaf to fully develop (not surprising given the leaf size!). My impression on growth rate is that they grow at a similar speed as other Phals, but because they need to be much larger in order to bloom, they need to produce more leaves to get there which adds years to their juvenile phase...

What have other gigantea growers noticed in terms of growth rate relative to other Phal species?

My big gig took a rest after maturing its last leaf, but now it's cranking up a new one super fast.

The smaller took no rest whatsoever and keeps sending new leaves before the previous is even done.

At this point I don't know if a 'resting' phase is mandatory for adults, if it depends on genetics (gigantea have small regional variations, it may come from that? Or simply good/bad strains?), or if I don't provide what the big plant wants.

[tmoney]

well, i for one am jealous anytime someone gets flowers! so, thanks for that, desireu

i wish i had more data points (i.e. more plants) for comparison, but our only species gigantea seems to be a slower grower. it has continued to make its newest leaf bigger, but very slowly it seems compared to our other species phals. but again, this is only anecdotal and observational, i haven’t taken any measurements. the hybrid seedlings we have are for sure growing slower than other seedlings, as it’s easy on them to see when a new leaf comes on and their growth rate. of our 5 seedlings of gigantea hybrids, only 1 has started growing a new leaf, and it is absolutely creeeeeping

[Shadeflower]

I wish you luck guys. From what I have seen the gigantea is quite picky about the care it gets.
I always thought phals were easy but warm growing phals I haven't quite figured out yet. I'm presuming there won't be much difference in care between a bellina and a gigantea?

Keith my warm growing phals I wouldn't let go under 65F

My supermarket hybrid phals can handle 55F but ideally 57F minimum. Those couple of degrees make a difference.