Phalaenopsis Violacea Alba

[mopwr]

I took a many year hiatus from orchids (about 12 years) and just got into things around the start of the year. Once back into things, I learned of some of the developments in plants that I had happenned while I was away. One of those things, relevant to this board was the line breeding of Novelty Phal Species, in particular line breeding success with the indigo "blue" types. I searched around and found nothing local, so I bought a nice mature Phalaenopsis Violacea var Indigo (with good parentage) that I could hopefully bloom and see this color in person. I got it and repotted it even though I was cautioned not to repot new plants, but it absolutely needed it. I trimmed off a fair amount of old dead roots and pulled out all of the old media and put it into something a bit more open of a mix.

Two months later I had a bunch more new roots and a couple more leaves and also, most importantly, a new spike. My first orchid to bloom since I got back into the hobby. As things progressed, I waited for the bud to deepn in color and start showing me that "blue"... Instead, I ended up with this guy, which I truly like, but was not planning on for sure.

The first pic shows it's first flower, nice sized at somewhere around 5cm. Now that I'm growing it a little cooler, the flowers are a hair under that size, but are a lot flatter (and it's thrown another spike). Not sure how people judge these flowers, but I think it's a good representative of the species, very well balanced and full - especially compared to what I've seen of the albas out there. Not what I had planned to get initially, but a good flower nonetheless - and fragrant to boot. Just thought I'd share.

[JungleJo]

Very nice! I like your story. :-)

You grow a beautiful plant. I have an indigo myself.

I grew a lot of orchids in my teens, but in my 20s and most of my 30s I was too busy and too mobile moving countries and continents too grow anything. Now I've changed for a different climate and country where orchids thrive. Having a blast

[Shadeflower]

It's lovely.
I lost mine and still a mystery what happened to it so that's my story. I keep telling myself it had a not so nice fragrance (just to make me feel better) - the fragrance is the most important, if you don't like how it smells then it could always be better
This was mine

[Thriodien]

Originally Posted by mopwr

Not sure how people judge these flowers, but I think it's a good representative of the species, very well balanced and full - especially compared to what I've seen of the albas out there.

That is indeed true. Both its shape and colour are perfect!

I also tend to repot everything right away (or at least after a couple of days) as i need to get rid of possible pests asap and confirm if the roots inside the pot are all okay.

I feel all of your stories, i've been away from orchids for a decade too but just couldn't stay away any longer Starting over's soooo exciting, having the sensation of a new flower opening is much more intensified still