Paul congratulations on your first bloom. Please take pictures and post when its fully open so we can also see how beautiful it is.

It's nothing to "write home about", but it's fully a flower. It's only 4cm wide, but as 'they' say; It's mine.
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...pso3a65xwk.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...psrueg3c6g.jpg

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o...psqhhqq7vh.jpg

Comments on why it is small are welcome.

Paul

It looks to me like a mini phal, so it's normal to be that size.

I got the original 'mother' plant from which this keiki sprung about two years ago, so I'm not sure but I think it was "normal" sized, with flowers about 3 inches across. I could be mistaken.

I know these flowers last a LONG time. Is it possible that the flower itself is going to continue to grow?

This flower stalk is about 10cm long. The original flower stalk was probably 40cm/16in long.

Paul

I don't know. You'll have to grow it on and see what happens next time.

I happened to be back in the store where I bought the original orchid a couple of years ago, and decided to go have a look at the ones for sale today. I think you are correct that this is a "mini phal", estacion seca. There were two sizes of Phalaenopsis sp. for sale; one 'large' and one 'small'. While I cannot be certain that I chose a 'small' one, it's likely as I tend toward smaller varieties of 'things'.

Since the orchids for sale: 1) are looking pretty good, 2) I now have some confidence in my ability to keep them alive, and 3) they are reasonably priced, $12, I think I may purchase another one and get more 'serious' about the substrate/environment that I provide.

Thanks again,
Paul

You'll do even better this time.

Thanks for the 'vote of confidence'.

I was looking on ebay for the orchid from which vanilla beans come and turns out there are many for sale in various forms there. Before I get into asking a bunch of questions about raising one of those, is there a specific subsite on this forum that I should head since those 'vanilla orchids' are not Phalaenopsis?

Paul

In the maroon menu near the top is Search. The genus of vanilla orchids is Vanilla.

Thanks, I found a site, Miscellaneous & Other Genera, in which there were several threads on Vanilla sp.

Paul