mini medium

[greenmom]

Hi,

Have a few questions.

first being I was at the store the other day, found some mini phals, so picked up two.

VERY cute! I can see why people prefer them

Anyways I was wondering what medium would be best for them? is traditional bark to large? Any special care tips?

I also have a light question, for 4 phals (2 mini) and a den phal. I am in Canada (south western Ontario) so not much light, I had them in a small west window but moved them to a large south facing window (we have no east windows, 2 large south facing, 4 small north and 3 very small west facing), wondering if this seems good or too bright. They are in a tray of pebbles with water, pic was taken at about 2pm when sun is very bright (pretty much as bright as it gets during the day).

Also was wondering if I open a window and let a cool fall breeze in would that be too cool for them? (its about 10 C here (which is about 50 F for the Americans)).

I am really enjoying my orchids.

I have attached pictures. Thanks in advance.

[quiltergal]

Hi greenmom! Those are so cute! No special care is required for minis. Same medium should work fine just use a smallish pot. Culture is the same as for your other Phals.

[Blueszz]

Hi Greenmom,
I live in NL and I asume I have the same light problem as you know. Phal's could do well now in a South window. I have a few Den. Phal. types and even in the South window they don't get enough light. I think that because the buds stopped growing, flowers open very slowly etc.

Watch them when you get some sunny days and feel the leaf temperature, but I think it's OK at least until the half of February.

Nicole

[greenmom]

Thanks for the great advice

[stefpix]

i think should be enough light. Have a Phal equestris that is spiking [ was a seedling whe i got it a few months ago] under a 2 bulb shoplight [T12] and another Phal started a spike on a desk a bit back from a south window with some other plants in between.
also spiking now a Spathoglottis plicata in similar light.

and i am not that far from Ontario.
I think could be enough - or gt a 25 W CFL to add light.

[AboutOrchids]

10 C (50 F) may be too cool for them. Most Phals don't want to go below 60 F.

[nutgirl]

Those are too cute. Do you have labels for them?

I grow my mini phals in a south window. I agree with Marc, 50 is a bit too cool. They will do better closer to 60.

Maureen

[greenmom]

Yes they do have labels.......

phal. sogo gotris "flora ark" (yellow pink flower)

phal. brother spring dancer (white purple flower) - this one seems to smell very slightly of lemons.

I was really surprised to see them at the store (hardware store), but they are so tiny can be easily missed.

[stefpix]

I saw many similar ones at Home Depot for 9 99...
I kind of like them better than most of large ones.

I saw an amazing blue one at Trader Joe's in BKLN today - but I am more into species. but this one at TJ had so many leaves and was so tall - cant remember the name. flowers were small and maybe had some doritis x.

I have Phal equestris that has been spiking and grew fast since I bought it just slightly larger than a seedling a few months back from Larry's on ebay

[Hatteras]

We sell them at the garden center where I work. They are the easiest orchids we have.
The blooming ones are kept in the store for obvious reasons. The non bloomers were kept outside inder a 50% shade canopy until the weather started getting cold. Now, they are all indoors under lights. They just keep blooming, the ones who's spikes dried up, are growing new spikes.
We haven't repotted any of them since they are doing so well. We feed them weekly. I have one at home, the last one in the picture, and I lost the spike when I had to go out of town and it got a bit dry in September. Now it's making a new spike. It sits in a west window.