Phal finleyi (minus) advice sought!

[Optimist]

I got a phal minus (not the name any more?) from Andy’s last summer. So, the roots look awesome. It has not dried out. It had 2 leaves. One yellowed and fell off. I spoke to one of Andy's people and they said that theirs all lost their leaves regularly (It is a deciduous phal so I am not so worried that it has one leaf left). My concern is that other than one leaf falling off absolutely "Nothing" is happening. No forward movement. No indication that it is "happy."

So, I was thinking that I am possibly not giving it enough light. I believe many of the "leafless" orchids that I have read about need higher than phal light. Chiloschista and dendrophylax ect. So I put it into a slightly higher light terrarium with my Cadetii which is giving me oodles of vegetation but no flowers.

Another possibility is that it is just not "blooming size" though I do not know how big that is supposed to be.

So, can anyone help me over here in Phal-land?

---------- Post added at 08:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:43 AM ----------

Oh No! This needs to be moved to Species!!!

[DeaC]

Your situation sounds odd/interesting.Looked up some info and found nothing about it being deciduous.I have a hybrid(Phal. Donna's Delight-equestris alba X finleyi)in 2-3" pot that lost one older leaf,has 3 now but just not awake yet.Got it in spike from Big Leaf Orchids,Tx. and Peter Lin grows beauties.An email to him might be worth it and Phals.net has some info and great fotos.Good luck.

[katrina]

I've had mine for about 3 yrs now and it always goes to "sleep" at this time of the year. It doesn't lose all it's leaves but I usually do lose one. I think I might have lost 2 last year but I don't remember for sure. Either way, mine has never dropped all it's leaves. I've heard they can lose all their leaves and be fine though.

I'm watering it (on average) 3x/week...it's mounted and hangs a bit higher and closer to the lights than my other phals. It also gets some early morning direct sun. It can take more light but keep it less than catt light or you might burn the leaves. I don't fertilize until I see green growing tips on the roots...then it's back to it's normal fert schedule.

This time of the year, my temps in the space range from anywhere between 75 and 80 during the day to as low as 58 at night. Occasionally, the day time temps won't climb much above 70-72 but that's only on the coldest of cold days.

I wouldn't worry about the lack of activity...IME, it seems to be the norm for this little guy.

BTW - finleyi.

[Optimist]

Katrina, about Phal Finleyi Minus.

I was called by Andy a few minutes ago. Yes, they are deciduous phalaenopsis. His lose their leaves yearly and grow new leaves. They are from Chiang mai Thailand, Laos or Burma, on the edge of the Himalaya Mountains, 3000 feet above sea level. In winter, they get frost, in summer it is hot and warm and very wet. He grows his outside but he is in California. He said mine would most likely be happy outside in the cold as it is now. I am willing to try. It is okay to let them go a bit dry in the winter.

---------- Post added at 05:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:01 PM ----------

In other words, they are not indoors plants (as small as they are). (Foothills of Himalayas weather). He says many of the "natural" phalaenopsis are also basically outdoor plants that can take some frost. Gosh, I tried to get him to write a book but he refuses. Darn! He says there is precious little info on Phal Finleyi online (well, I know this already!) I had no idea this was not a well known plant.

---------- Post added at 05:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:13 PM ----------

Oh he also says don't worry if it looks like nothing is happening. They kind of sit around, not doing much. They take more light than phals too. Can be put fully in a window.

sorry about the spelling.

---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:16 PM ----------

Oh, I think I understand after looking on map that he got his specimens from Chiang Mai Thailand, but they come from the foothills of the himalayas (was stuck on that point). Myanmar, Burma etc., at 3000 feet.

[estación seca]

It would be nice if a moderator could change the name of this thread to the correct spelling of Phalaenopsis finleyi and move it to the Phalaenopsis Species forum so people can find this great information more easily in the future.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Optimist

[/COLOR]In other words, they are not indoors plants (as small as they are). (Foothills of Hymaleyas weather). He says many of the "natural" phalenopsis are also basically outdoor plants that can take some frost.

Actually...all orchids are outdoor plants. LOL!


I got mine from Andy too.

I grow in an area where it's impossible to grow my plants outside at this time of year. I was just giving you my growing temps. I understand in nature these plants can be exposed to some light frost and/or near freezing temps for short periods but it's my opinion (and it is just my opinion) that a plant is going to be healthier if it's not exposed to the the extremes of it's native habitat. More consistent conditions are less likely to cause the plant to go into stress mode. Extremes of climate can and do create stressors for the plant and can potentially lead to other issues. I think the stress I inadvertently cause once in awhile is more than enough for them. So, for me, personally, I would avoid growing it near those bottom temps. But, that's just me.

If you want to though...you'll definitely want to keep it a bit drier. In it's native habitat there is a "drier" period of 4-5 months in the winter. Not totally w/out water but it's drier than in the active growing season. Occasional morning waterings would probably best so it can be dry before the coldest evening temps come in. I don't grow it that way so if you want to keep it colder then I would suggest you just follow what Andy said because he's been growing them that way for more years than I've had my little plant.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by katrina

Actually...all orchids are outdoor plants. LOL!

Yes, of course, but where. I am generally talking about plants that can be grown outdoors in growing zones often seen in the USA. My bad. I think of a plant that is grown outside in Taiwan or some other place as an "indoor" plant, because it would die or freeze to death, or bake in our weather.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Yes, of course, but where. I am generally talking about plants that can be grown outdoors in growing zones often seen in the USA. My bad. I think of a plant that is grown outside in Taiwan or some other place as an "indoor" plant, because it would die or freeze to death, or bake in our weather.

I knew what you meant...I was just playing with you. All in good fun.

[Optimist]

Oh, finally, here is a picture of the problem plant. I had to borrow a camera because the one I have will not take a close up. So does this look awful to you?
(the picture is not sharp at all.)

[katrina]

Hard to know for sure based on that pic but I'm going to guess that it's fine and w/good culture it'll do some more growing and getting stronger.

The first winter I had mine it didn't seem all that happy and I'm of the mindset that it can take time for the grower to learn what the plant wants and for the plant to get used to the new conditions. I don't consider it a shock thing (per se) but there is an adjustment that happens when going from one type of growing conditions to something different.

Something to think about...if you can keep that leaf on the plant it'll be a bit ahead of the game come the active growing season. I could be wrong but I'm of the opinion that the more leaves a young plant can hold onto in those early years (unless it absolutely needs the dormancy like some terrestrials)...the stronger it can grow. It's the same reason I don't force dormancy on young catasetum seedlings...the more green = the stronger the growth. I didn't come to this on my own..I've basically just been following the advice of some orchids growers who had more experience than I did in these areas. So far, it's worked well for me in my space.