My First Phalaenopsis Speices!

[NYCorchidman]

This was a total accident in two regards.
I went to the North Jersey show this past sunday, the last day, and I was just browsing through the vendor tables.
Well, this particular plant with beautifully mottled silvery leaves PLUS a spike (or three) captured my eyes and I bought it. The price was good, too. From Ten Shin Gardens. I also bought some paphs in bud with crazy amount of great roots at good price.

It's an accident because I did not plan on buying phal species, and with the leaves I thought it was schilleriana even though the tag did say philippinensis. stupid me.

Now the bad news is that the plant has almost no roots.
It must have really disliked the international travel I guess.
All the roots were pretty much mushy and goner, and I was left with two very short ones.
I potted up anyways and am watching what will happen now.

There are five leaves. The largest one being about 8 in in length and the smallest one being about just 2 in.
You don't see other two spikes in these pictures as they are just small red nubbins.

With many rather big leaves and spikes and without enough roots to support them all, I'm curious to see what the plant will do for the next few weeks.

For now, I'm just loving the leaves. It's so shiny and beautiful but my pictures are of poor quality.

[MattWoelfsen]

This is a lovely plant, despite its rootlessness. When you were at the TenShin table did you talk to Eric Shin? He is a great guy. I hope you got a great deal.

[NYCorchidman]

Hi, Matt!
Who is Eric Shin? I thought the vendor's name is Matt? Maybe I'm way off.
This time, he (the owner or the vendor, he's a young man) had a helping hand, Barry (not sure about the spelling) from PA.

I bought a bunch from him along with a friend of mine, so we got a pretty good deal.

Do you grow this species or related species?
I wonder if the plant really doesn't "like" sitting horizontally in the pot? or it that matters at all because many pictures I see are mounted ones that let the plants hang down vertically as they naturally do in the wild.

Any idea??

[billc]

I have a couple of philippinensis that grow just fine in pots. Species phals will grow better mounted(in my experience) but you then become a slave to your plants. That's a nice looking plant, hopefully you can get the roots going and see some beautiful blooms.

Bill

[Paul]

Lovely leaves. Hopefully it will recover quickly.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by billc

I have a couple of philippinensis that grow just fine in pots. Species phals will grow better mounted(in my experience) but you then become a slave to your plants. That's a nice looking plant, hopefully you can get the roots going and see some beautiful blooms.

Bill

I hate mounts. Even when I was a slave to them, they were still too dry.
I switched them all into pots and they are so much happier now!

---------- Post added at 09:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:49 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Paul

Lovely leaves. Hopefully it will recover quickly.

I know, right?
I think I'll keep it just for the leaves.

I hope this one recovers fast.
I might be just imagining, but the second spike is already a little bit elongated. That is quite fast. hmmm

[MattWoelfsen]

Hello NYC! Eric is the Ten Shin representative--I think he is a family member. Matt is a person that helps Eric at shows. I think Matt gets the shipments from Taiwan to the U.S. Eric then takes them around the various orchid shows.

I don't like to mount these larger leafed Phals, like the one you have. I would grow it in a net basket and let the leaves cascade over the side. That is how I'm growing my Phal. gigantea--that is easier than mounting, especially when your plant grows more leaves.

[No-Pro-mwa]

The leaves are lovely.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

Hello NYC! Eric is the Ten Shin representative--I think he is a family member. Matt is a person that helps Eric at shows. I think Matt gets the shipments from Taiwan to the U.S. Eric then takes them around the various orchid shows.

I don't like to mount these larger leafed Phals, like the one you have. I would grow it in a net basket and let the leaves cascade over the side. That is how I'm growing my Phal. gigantea--that is easier than mounting, especially when your plant grows more leaves.

I swear I have seen only Matt, but it's possible that I got the names and faces totally wrong!

This plant apparently had tons of roots in Taiwan, but went bad. I'm surprised the spikes (2 of them) are slowly developing. interesting thing!

---------- Post added at 04:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 PM ----------

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

The leaves are lovely.

Yeah, that's why I bought it without any thinking.

I really hope this thing lives.

[NYCorchidman]

So the main spike did manage to continue on and now the flowers are beginning to open.
It did branch and the tiny branch was working on two buds but both of them dropped off.
The main spike had six buds but the very last one at the tip dried up and dropped.

The flowers are all very floppy, but I want to give it another year as this plant has only one long root and two newly developing roots, so that probably is why.
The leaves are a bit too soft as well.

Anyway, I love the shape and color on the back side of the lip. Very interesting.

Now, how big does this species get long term?
Also, how does this compared to schilleriana in the ease of culture and the size?
I know the leaves are similarly marked, but flowers are pink and fragrant. Are they worth trying for fragrance or is the fragrance not that significant??