Huge Phalaenopsis Schilleriana Var purpurea!

[Cattleya17]

Hello ALL! i just got this guy in the mail today! its leaf span is over 17 inches its newest leaf is 11 inches!!! I cannot wait for this Monster to bloom!!! im giving it the cool night treatment to initiate spikes. the grower said that it will set multiple spike due to its large size. 60 degree nights for a 7-10 days will trigger the blooms...fingers crossed! its not very molted...is that because of the variety or because this plant just has little molting? is there any way to make it more pronounced?

here it is!!

IMG_5662 by Sam In NY, on Flickr


IMG_5654 by Sam In NY, on Flickr


IMG_5655 by Sam In NY, on Flickr


IMG_5657 by Sam In NY, on Flickr


IMG_5664 by Sam In NY, on Flickr

Its huge right???

[Bud]

That is a huge phal! I cant wait for it to bloom.

[camille1585]

That's a giant!!! The mottling is very subtle for a schilleriana. I'm really curious what the blooms will look like, 'var purpurea' sounds like a very nice color.

[Bud]

Right my orchid has a tigerlike silver stripes on deep green background...but its a teenager compared to his huge plant

[camille1585]

And mine is an infant! Largest leaf so far is the size of my hand, it's roughly one year from blooming. The mottling is beautiful.

Maybe this one grows so much and so fast that the mottling just gets stretched out, so not as bright. Or it's been grown in low light, I noticed (on my schilleriana x stuartiana) that it's much stronger mottling on leaves that grew in higher light.

[tucker85]

Wow! That's huge.

[Gage]

Very nice! Can't wait to see the blooms!

[Cattleya17]

Thanks guys!!! i couldnt picture 17+leaf span because i had honestly never seen a Phalaenopsis that large before. im extremely happy it made it through the mail with no damaged leaves!

I was disappointed when i saw the mottling(I used to think it was called molting....i was wrong lol) i will try to introduce higher light slowly by bringing it closer to the lights little by little and see what happens. i have seen others of this variety that had pronounced mottling so maybe it is a lower light thing.

I got it now(out of bloom) because the place i got it from told me how large the plants were and that it will set multiple spikes, also that they will sell out so get it now.

Originally Posted by camille1585

That's a giant!!! The mottling is very subtle for a schilleriana. I'm really curious what the blooms will look like, 'var purpurea' sounds like a very nice color.

The flowers will have a larger more overlapping petal structure and of course a dark pink the purple color and it is supposed to be fragrant but there's no way to know until blooming. how many flowers do you think a plant of this size can make? im torn between staking them and letting the spike(s) do their own thing.

[Mervin]

Wow !!!
It's like a phal gigantea ! Only nice leaves markings !

[Bird Song Farm]

Phal. scherilliana will do better with more light than many other phals. I'd try that both for mottling and spiking.
It's a beautiful plant, you will enjoy it for years to come and each year will be better than the last.
AL