Source for QUALITY species phals?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've never recommended growing in full moss. I've never had any kind of success with Phals grown in full moss. If what you're using works for you just use that.

I've actually come up with another reason for not liking to grow in full moss...

This was based off of something me and my former employer in the orchid nursery business had discussed one day.

Moss gets too acidic (it has a pH of around 3 or 4).

[peeweelovesbooks]

Ok. Great.

I've been using this mix for about 1 year now and the phals love it. I always thought phal species were more finicky than most re: potting medium.

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[Becca]

I too would recommend Big Leaf Orchids. I've ordered from them before and their quality and customer service is top notch!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

They're not finicky about the potting medium.

You gotta be on the ball with cultural regimen.

While the ones I recommended are relatively easy and can tolerate some drying out. When you get to the less common and more "exotic" evergreen species, they don't like drying out as much. Humidity must be reasonable enough (usually around 70% to 80%, although, 60% is fine). And proper air circulation to the roots is very important. The balance must be struck in order for them to thrive. That's all it takes.

If you've seen the links I've posted of Phals in the wild, there's really nothing special about where they grow.

It's a wet tree trunk. Usually barren of moss. If they're growing on a tree with moss, there isn't a whole lot of it.

They grow on trees in swamp forests or on trees that grow along large rivers or streams.

[cb977]

I grow all my Phals, species and hybrids, potted in some sort of LECA (Hydroton at the moment) or mounted/basket with good quality long sphag

[jkofferdahl]

Phal. bastianii is another I'd add to the easy to grow list.

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

The ones I'm about to mention are not miniature Phals, but they aren't giants either. They are perhaps the easiest of the species Phals to start off with.

Phal phillipinensis
Phal schilleriana
Phal stuartiana

Another species that's great for those starting with species Phals is:

Phal equestris

Phal equestris is smaller. Each leaf usually gets no larger than 3" in length.

While I'm aware that Dowery Orchids does carry Phal appendiculata, a true miniature Phal, I can't recommend this yet. Each leaf gets no larger than 1 1/2" in length. Flowers are 1/4" in diameter.

They're difficult to establish and need to be mounted.

[quiltergal]

I'm currently growing the following species and really have not found them to be fussy at all. I grow them the same as all my other Phals.

Phal. bastianii
Phal. mannii
Phal. violacea 'Blue Chip' x self
Phal. bellina
Phal. equestris (the common type and 'Orange')
Phal. tetraspis C-1
Phal. kunstlerii

I'll be looking at buying a few more in the spring when it warms up.

Phal. appendiculata and Phal. cornu cervi are at the top of my list.

[BikerDoc5968]

In the spring you might want to check out Dwayne Lowder's place, http://doweryorchids.com/. This is what he had to offer this past fall and this spring he hopes to get a very nice selection. Every plant I purchased came well wrapped and in excellent condition... he is also extremely helpful with any questions you may have.

P. appendiculata - bs - $28.00
P. bellina - pb/bs - (wonderful plants, currently in flower) - $24.00
P. cochlearis - (seedlings - 5"-6") $12.00
P. cornu-cervi v. sanguinea (from Thailand - seedlings 3"-4") - $12.00
P. cornu-cervi - (from Java) - bs - $16.00 (some in spike)
P. cornu-cervi - (from Sumatra) - bs - $18.00 (some in spike)
P. doweryensis - nbs - $32.00
P. floresensis - pb/bs - $18.00
P. gigantea (large - well rooted) - $80.00
P. gigantea (medium - well rooted) - $50.00
P. gigantea (small - well rooted) - $25.00
P. javanica - bs - $26.00
P. kunstleri - pb/bs - $32.00 (some in spike)
P. lobbii - pb/bs - $22.00
P. maculata - bs - $24.00
P. modesta - bs - $26.00
P. parishii - pb/bs - $22.00
P. petoletii - bs - $26.00
P. stuartiana - bs - (small, limited in numbers) - $18.00
P. tetraspis - pb/bs - (some in spike) - $26.00
*P. tetraspis v. speciosa C-1 - pb/bs - (some in spike) - $26.00
P. violacea v. alba - pb/bs - (many in spike) - $26.00
P. violacea v. coerulea - pb/bs - (some in spike) - $24.00
P. violacea v. mentawai - pb/bs - (some in spike) - $24.00
P. zebrina - bs - (some in spike) - $28.00

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

In the spring you might want to check out Dwayne Lowder's place, THE****************************** DOWERY****************************** ORCHID****************************** NURSERY. This is what he had to offer this past fall and this spring he hopes to get a very nice selection. Every plant I purchased came well wrapped and in excellent condition... he is also extremely helpful with any questions you may have.

P. appendiculata - bs - $28.00
P. bellina - pb/bs - (wonderful plants, currently in flower) - $24.00
P. cochlearis - (seedlings - 5"-6") $12.00
P. cornu-cervi v. sanguinea (from Thailand - seedlings 3"-4") - $12.00
P. cornu-cervi - (from Java) - bs - $16.00 (some in spike)
P. cornu-cervi - (from Sumatra) - bs - $18.00 (some in spike)
P. doweryensis - nbs - $32.00
P. floresensis - pb/bs - $18.00
P. gigantea (large - well rooted) - $80.00
P. gigantea (medium - well rooted) - $50.00
P. gigantea (small - well rooted) - $25.00
P. javanica - bs - $26.00
P. kunstleri - pb/bs - $32.00 (some in spike)
P. lobbii - pb/bs - $22.00
P. maculata - bs - $24.00
P. modesta - bs - $26.00
P. parishii - pb/bs - $22.00
P. petoletii - bs - $26.00
P. stuartiana - bs - (small, limited in numbers) - $18.00
P. tetraspis - pb/bs - (some in spike) - $26.00
*P. tetraspis v. speciosa C-1 - pb/bs - (some in spike) - $26.00
P. violacea v. alba - pb/bs - (many in spike) - $26.00
P. violacea v. coerulea - pb/bs - (some in spike) - $24.00
P. violacea v. mentawai - pb/bs - (some in spike) - $24.00
P. zebrina - bs - (some in spike) - $28.00

Impressive!

I'll be sure to look into what they have offer next year.

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Phal. appendiculata and Phal. cornu cervi are at the top of my list.

Phal appendiculata grows the wettest of all the Phals.

You should really grow this one more like a mounted Pleurothallis.

[BikerDoc5968]

I was told the Phal cornu cervi was a difficult phal to grow so I bought the Sumatra variation and so far so good. Got new leaves but no spike, yet.....