My goal of owning every Phal species - made good progress with some purchases today

[OzPhal]

Hi Everybody,

I'm working toward a goal of owning one of every single Phal species... made some good progress today through some purchases i made at an Orchid Show here in Australia. I purchased the following Joseph Wu seedlings:

1 X Phal Luddemanniana
1 X Phal Violacea 'Blue'
1 X Phal Cornu Cervi 'Red'

I paid $110 AUS for the three seedlings

Just a question in regard their culture now - i have them potted in individual pots in spaghnum moss as they have only just been taken out of the flask. My eventual goal is to grow these on slabs... I have them in an aquarium which has a steady temp of between 21oC - 25oC and around 80% - 85% RH... is that ok for these gorgeous babies?

[Robe]

Hi OzPhal!!
Well done, you made a good choice!
So... you bought three very young plant. Because of their little age they're extremely weak and delicate. The first thing they need is a very high and constant humidity rate.
I think temperatures and RH you have are perfect. Can you ensure a good illumination?
I presume your aquarium is closed so air is now allowed to circulate inside and this may cause severe mould attack, fatal for these plants. You can avoid it simply by installing a little fan inside that moves the air inside.
Then... what else??
ooh, yes... You should know you need a huge amount of patience, this little plants won't flower in next two years.
Patience, constancy and passion: good luck!

[OzPhal]

Thank you Robe for your reply... it's much appreciated. Yes, they are quite young plant sonly just out of the flask - i'm still gobsmacked that i actually paid $110AUS for the three of them hahaha.

The humidity and temperature is good, the aquarium is sitting in front of a north east facing window - there is no direct sunlight on them and it's shady enough to not cast a defined shadow. If i worry that it will be too bright i just drape a lace curtain in front of it. I also have a 15cm fan inside the tank to ensure good air circulation. At the moment the only water i am applying to the community pots is from the bottom of the pot and i am allowing it to wick up through the spaghnum moss.

Patience isn't an issue - i'm just excited to be on my way to owning all of the species... I'm wondering though also - since i want to grow them on slabs - when is the right time to move them over to slab culture? or can these successuflly be grown in pots? my current potting mix is coarse bark with some finely chopped sphagnum moss to retain a little moisture (but not too much)

Here is a photo of my little setup:

Originally Posted by Robe

Hi OzPhal!!
Well done, you made a good choice!
So... you bought three very young plant. Because of their little age they're extremely weak and delicate. The first thing they need is a very high and constant humidity rate.
I think temperatures and RH you have are perfect. Can you ensure a good illumination?
I presume your aquarium is closed so air is now allowed to circulate inside and this may cause severe mould attack, fatal for these plants. You can avoid it simply by installing a little fan inside that moves the air inside.
Then... what else??
ooh, yes... You should know you need a huge amount of patience, this little plants won't flower in next two years.
Patience, constancy and passion: good luck!

[OrchidSue]

or can these successuflly be grown in pots?

I have all 3 of these species (adult plants or close) growing well in pots. Slabs don't work for me-they get too dry too fast.

Great choices .

Susan

[greenbean]

Originally Posted by OzPhal

I'm working toward a goal of owning one of every single Phal species...

Great choices! I'm sure you'll be rewarded for your patience with gorgeous blooms!

Oh, and good luck on only owning one of each species. There are people on this board who probably have entire collections just of different varieties of one or a few species.

[Robe]

Hi!
Beh... Here, in Europe, 100$AUS (about 65€, right?) is a big amount of money for three little plant, but I've noticed that abroad prices are very higher than here.
Just think that yesterday I've received 8 plants: only 2 of them are seedlings like yours but the others are healthy young plants. Here's the list:
Phal: inscriptiosinensis, violacea var. coerulea (flowering), gigantea (young), equestris var. aurea, speciosa (seedling), tetraspis (seedling) and Bulbophyllum nympopolitanum and Chiloschista lunifera.
The total price, shipment (from Germany) included was... 110€, about 185 AUD...
I always get surprised when I see the big difference in prices

Then...I think your set up is great and it will work perfectly!
For water... pay attention, water must NOT stagnate in the bottom, pots must not lean always on a water layer, even if thin.
They maybe are too little to start slab colture and they can be perfectly grown in pots. Cultivation in pots is required when you cannot provide them with a good umidity. This is not your case, you only have to choose (not yet, let them grow a bit )

Bye!!
Rob

[OzPhal]

Thanks Greenbean.

Oh and dont worry! i know it's going to be an addiction! I can feel it! and i know my fiancee/soon to be wife is going to kill me hahaha! I'm getting married in November and that is what is keeping me grounded at the moment - and the fact that i am renting and dont have room for a decent glasshouse. I already have my eye on the style of glass house i want: I'm on a mission to show my fiancee the beauty of these flowers - i'm trying to bring her to the dark side and i can see that i will definitely have a wide range of varieties of species

[/I]

Originally Posted by greenbean

Great choices! I'm sure you'll be rewarded for your patience with gorgeous blooms!

Oh, and good luck on only owning one of each species. There are people on this board who probably have entire collections just of different varieties of one or a few species.

[OzPhal]

Thanks Susan,

I noticed your violacea in your signature... I think i ill have the same problem with slabs in providing them enough moisture - atleast until i have a glasshouse propoerly setup with some automation. My next species has to be Phal bellina- they are simply stunning flowers!

Originally Posted by OrchidSue

I have all 3 of these species (adult plants or close) growing well in pots. Slabs don't work for me-they get too dry too fast.

Great choices .

Susan

[OzPhal]

You're making me jealous Rob hahahah! that's an amazing range of plants for so cheap! i think i paid more than you normally could here in Australia simply because they were Joseph Wu. I can buy some of those as advanced seedlings here in Australia for $30AUD but the quality isnt the same...

I hope the setup works nicely - i just need to find a more accurate way to keep the humidity up in the tank. I also think i will have to get a bigger tank soon I have four more flasks due to arrive in November hahhaha and i just know that i'm going to be on the prowl for more species!

Originally Posted by Robe

Hi!
Beh... Here, in Europe, 100$AUS (about 65€, right?) is a big amount of money for three little plant, but I've noticed that abroad prices are very higher than here.
Just think that yesterday I've received 8 plants: only 2 of them are seedlings like yours but the others are healthy young plants. Here's the list:
Phal: inscriptiosinensis, violacea var. coerulea (flowering), gigantea (young), equestris var. aurea, speciosa (seedling), tetraspis (seedling) and Bulbophyllum nympopolitanum and Chiloschista lunifera.
The total price, shipment (from Germany) included was... 110€, about 185 AUD...
I always get surprised when I see the big difference in prices

Then...I think your set up is great and it will work perfectly!
For water... pay attention, water must NOT stagnate in the bottom, pots must not lean always on a water layer, even if thin.
They maybe are too little to start slab colture and they can be perfectly grown in pots. Cultivation in pots is required when you cannot provide them with a good umidity. This is not your case, you only have to choose (not yet, let them grow a bit )

Bye!!
Rob

[isdaojon]

Are those the only three species you have or do you have more?