Growing the phal stuartiana

[Leafmite]

I bought a small, seedling sized phal stuartiana at the end of last summer and there is so much I don't know about this orchid. I thought it might be fun to start a thread to share the experiences of growing this one. I am finding this to be a slow grower so far but that might be because we had a cool summer and the house is rather cool, too. Here are some pictures!

[naoki]

It looks pretty healthy, and it might be able to flower next winter. Mine was originally similar to your size in 2012 spring, and it is spiking now (the leaf is about 3", so it is still a small plant). It seems to grow well in a typical species Phal condition. Among several Phal species I have, it is not the fastest nor the slowest grower.

[Brooke]

The stuartiana starts regrowing after it is done blooming in the spring. Once the cooler temps set in the root tips grow over, the spikes appear in the fall.

This is a species that needs to be grown slightly dry-er during the winter.

Brooke

[nikkik]

I bought a mounted one at a show last winter. It didn't do well mounted in my conditions. I repotted it in coconut fiber and packing peanuts and it's doing so much better and is in spike.

I agree that it doesn't grow as fast as some of my other plants. I also agree with Brooke that I keep it dryer in the winter.

[Leafmite]

Thanks! I had no idea how large it needed to be to bloom so I really appreciate the information.
I will have to take a peek at the roots. I have been keeping it rather damp (oops) but the pot is small (and a basket pot) and there are plenty of packing peanuts. Hopefully, it hasn't been staying too damp. Thanks!

---------- Post added at 08:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:02 PM ----------

Ooh, a spike! Congratulations!

[blackvine]

Hi, all! Well, I've been trying to grow these two little stuartianas since October and when I first got them (1st pic), they grew a new leaf and looked healthy. Then I repotted them twice because I could not decide what they wanted and finally mounted them (last two pics). Well, they are not dead, but have stopped growing or doing anything at all. Either they are dormant or in shock or they hate me! I'm hoping for dormant. Time will tell!!

[Silje]

I've also got one of these. It came in moss and I eventually mounted it. Like Blackvine is say, it's alive, but not doing much. Now, during the summertime, I'm giving it a daily shower with the garden hose, but I just got my own small RO system and once I get time to install it, I'm planning on using a handsprayer for all watering to, finally!!!, get rid of some of my lime deposits. Yey!

[Leafmite]

Mine isn't doing much, either. Maybe it thinks that it needs to hibernate for the winter?

[Silje]

It's summer here! It should be growing, and it is...kind of. Just not with the vigor that I'm used to with my NOID phals. Come to think of it, the few phal species that I have are considerably slower than the supermarket cheapies.

[escualida]

I am obsessed with this plant! I got a really lovely one in bloom from a vendor on eBay almost a year ago and I think I watered it too much and it deteriorated really quickly and eventually died. I was heartbroken.

I've bought a few seedling sized ones since then and one larger one that is spiking right now, I'm hoping the flowers are as lovely as the last one I had. I also have a few smaller ones that are doing relatively well. One of the small ones started growing a basal keiki a few weeks ago which really surprised me, does anyone know if this species has a tendency to do that? I'm attaching a picture, it is currently in a 2 inch pot.


Phal. stuartiana basal keiki