Onc. Twinkle. Perfect for beginners?

[Tommyr]

Originally Posted by Paul

Beautiful onc! I have the hardest time growing them or any member of the onc alliance. My Onc Twinkle is close to dead.

You CAN save it! Bright, indirect light. Let it dry out between waterings. come on man, you CAN DO IT!

[quiltergal]

I'm about 50/50 in getting Onc. alliance plants to rebloom. I have 7 now. Ocdm. Wildcat 'Carmela' is in full bloom and glorious looking. Vuyl. Ensan Fantasy just sent up a spike, and has a new growth. Both of these plants were moved to S/H last spring. I also got a surprise spike from Milt. NOID last spring. Non re-bloomers include Ocdm. Mayfair 'Golden Gate' (I've had this plant for more years than I care to remember.) Another Milt. NOID, and a Mtssa. Dark Star 'Darth Vader'. I'm beginning to think the answer for me and Onc.s is S/H.

As for Phals as beginner plants....not so much. They are easier and generally less expensive to buy so if you kill it you aren't out a lot of money. I do think getting the culture right on Phals is more difficult than with some of the other allliances. I think Paphs or Phrags are way easier to grow and bloom than Phals.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by rogerman

Yesterday i was at my wholesalers orchid farm. We were talking about phals interestingly enough. He told me they grow in the natural upside down to stop the water from collecting in the crown and causing rot and fungus to set in. Makes sense really.

Very true

I have some Phals potted and have to be very careful about getting water in the crowns but...

I have most of my Phals on mounts or in baskets which are then hung sideways. No chance of water getting in there and they seem to love it

[cb977]

Jerry, your Twinkle is outstanding!
Thanks for sharing it with us

[shams]

I am a killer of phals! But that doesn't mean I won't keep trying them. My little twinkle is the only oncidium I have (well... before yesterday) that wasn't beaten up royally by my puppy, and it's got spikes all over the place. I've had it a year, so I consider this a good thing! I'm lucky to keep a phal alive for 6 months Though it looks like my luck might be changing.

The phal I have that is doing the best is my tiny little Phal. lobbii which is mounted. I treat it like my vandas (which ALL do well) and it's a happy little camper. But I agree... they are not the easiest one to start with.

[Jerry Delaney]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

I think Paphs or Phrags are way easier to grow and bloom than Phals.

I totally agree Terri. I wouldn't trade even one of my Phrags for all the Phals in my greenhouse. The only thing Phals might have over the Phrags is they are of a more manageable size.
Tommy, is your avatar a picture of a Phaius tankerville you grow yourself? It's absolutely stunning!! One generea I plan on expanding. Hey, I could grow them where I have the Phals!!!!!

[Cookiemonster]

Your Twinkle seems to love you Jerry, it looks abundantly happy
I think most people recommend phals for beginners, personally if you arent given all the DO's n DONT's you will kill it.
I think dendrobiums and cattleyas are a lot easier to grow, more durable and can take a lot of screwing up hehe

[Tommyr]

Originally Posted by Jerry Delaney

Tommy, is your avatar a picture of a Phaius tankerville you grow yourself? It's absolutely stunning!! One generea I plan on expanding. Hey, I could grow them where I have the Phals!!!!!

Yes, it's my Phaius, Thanks! They are great plants!

[Tommyr]

I got my first Twinkle today! Look at all the spikes!!!

[greenbean]

Honestly, this is really a matter of the individual and his or her growing conditions. I started out with a half dead white NOID phal I rescued from a BB store and it has done very well, though I'm still learning to give it enough water when new leaves are coming in. I have a red Onc. Twinkle that almost died on me from underwatering. I repotted it and treated it with some rooting hormone around Thanksgiving this year and it has since produced at least four new growths. Hopefully, I will be able to care for it properly so that this time next year I'll have blooms instead of an almost-funeral!
So while some beginners may have a flair for phals, others may have an aptitude for angraecums, or an obsession for oncidiums. Some growers may kill "easy" orchids and have "difficult" chids thrive. I think it's a good idea to start out with a small but diverse collection to see what you like and what works. Later you can try altering things to make previous failures work too!