Phal. stuartiana in bloom!

[lotis146]

Got this little guy at the Grand Valley Orchid Society show couple months ago. It was in spike at the time, and gosh waiting for these to open felt like forever.

When I first brought it home there were a couple more buds at nodes below the top of the spike. Those blasted. I thought eh oh well, a bit expected with the change in conditions. So then I had the main four buds. Finally within the last week they started to open. I'll be dammed though if one of the buds didn't start to blast right after I gave it a bit of water. Then two blooms open and a second bud blasted!!! So I'm still happy for the two flowers but that makes me nervous.





I included this pic because actually right now the flowers aren't as stark white as the above, and as they were at first. They've got a tint of yellow to them which you can see a bit in the image below. Not sure if this is normal or a bad sign, nervous after losing two buds.

[No-Pro-mwa]

It's very pretty. I hope nothing is wrong with it. I just love those leaves.

[lotis146]

Thanks! The blooms are still looking happy as far as I'm concerned. I'm wondering if maybe I let it get too dry and by the time I gave it some water (to stave off thirst until I did a full water/feed a few days later) it was too late. I also hadn't been keeping up with filling my humidifier (given that requires purifying out water first until I get the filter to keep down the white dust).

I too LOVE the leaves, it was more than half the reason I snatched it up. I've not seen a lot of Phals, at least in person, with mottled leaves like the Phals. Fabulous.

[Draft]

Such great looking leaves, and a very attractive flower to boot. Very cool plant.

[lotis146]

Thank you! It's such a small little plant I can't feel guilty about getting this guy, nor should anyone else. Mwah ha ha!

[CPKidofAugusta]

Sorry to distract; Is that an owl?

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by CPKidofAugusta

Sorry to distract; Is that an owl?

Yes, yes it is. A little sculpture my pops gave me couple years ago. He wanted to be in the shot, even if it's a little bit creepy.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Oh goodness I missed the owl. It does look creepy, it looks kind of like a ghost.

[CPKidofAugusta]

I sorta like the owl. And nice growing, it seems so young.

P.S. I have a schilleriana a little smaller than this stuartiana and the roots do the same thing. They never grow into the pot as one would like.

[lotis146]

Interesting bit about the roots. Wondering if when I repot this little guy I should leave those out or go ahead and pot it up in something bigger. It does seem to be quite young, which is not a problem.

Glad you like the owl.