Flower close-up
This
multifloral is one of many
superior clones to emerge from
Taiwan, where phalaenopsis
breeding is reaching new
heights. This is its first
blooming with two spikes, and
shows what can be accomplished
in a relatively small space on
a windowsill (or under
lights).
The same
orchid only a
few years ago when it was
younger! Phalaenopsis can grow
quite quickly under optimal
growing conditions.
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This gorgeous
multifloral
phalaenopsis has
bloomed for us on
our windowsill
with 70 flowers on
two spikes! The flowers
will last several months.
A doritaenopsis is a
hybrid between two
closely related orchid
genera: doritis and
phalaenopsis. It's
essentially a
phalaenopsis and should
be grown like one.
Multiflorals are bred to
have more numerous,
though typically smaller,
flowers. The plants will
often bloom small, and
remain compact. However,
plant size depends on
their parentage and many
multifloral plants, like
this one, will get as big
as a standard
phalaenopsis.
This orchid
is growing in a 5.5"
plastic pot and is potted
in Pro-Mix, a sphagnum
peat-based mix, that has
had additional perlite
added to it to improve
aeration. It has been
demonstrated that many
orchids grow better in a
Pro-Mix type mix, but it
does not work well for
everyone. I find that
phals do well in under
household growing
conditions in plastic
pots. However, it takes
some skill to make sure
you do not overwater
plants in this kind of
mix, as it is easy to do
so.
It
receives bright indirect
light from south and
eastern exposure
throughout the year. It's
spikes in early spring
when night temperatures
below (around 60).
Keeping night
temperatures low while
the spike is elongating
to about 10 inches, has
been shown to increase
the number of buds. This
can be accomplished by
keeping plants near a
cracked window at
night. Once buds
are clearly visible there
is no need for night
temperatures to be
particularly
low.
We fertilize it regularly
during the growing
season, including a
standard 'blossom booster'
orchid fertilizer that is not
very high in nitrogen. Orchids
drowning in Pro-Mix do not
require the higher nitrogen
levels that those growing in a
bark mix do. It is kept evenly
moist, though not wet,
throughout the year, with
slightly less moisture during
the cooler darker winter
days.
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