What I got instead of P. stuartiana
 

I bought this flowering size P. stuartiana last June from Elsner. It has bloomed in due time, but it turned out not to be P. stuartiana. I remember I had some doubts upon seeing its leaves (mottled, but faintly) but I blamed my lack of knowledge/experience.

Fortunately I managed to get an ID from the vendor and I just love the flowers: round petals, flat 7 cm wide flowers. Considering that this is its very first blooming, I'm quite happy. This is my surprise: Phalaenopsis Leda (amabilis X stuartiana).

On the other hand, I'm quite disappointed with Elsner's reply: no apology, no offer to replace the plant. And when a German supplier does that, I have to admit that there's something fishy in Europe...

At least I didn't get a dud :)

It's actually a very nice cousin of stuartiana !!! A cousin with a clean face, no freckles or dirt spots !!! Obviously amabilis got it to clean up its act !!!

But I love those freckles: http://www.phals.net/stuartiana/00ph0151.jpg

I know, first pix WAS my first love, I killed it. Second pix is one I have now but not a 'Sogo'.

The flowers of the first one are stunning. The second one looks healthy and happy, I can't wait to see its flowers.

Me too ! I WILL post the pix !! If not similar to the first I WILL go find a 'Sogo' version !!! I'm told the blooms are much better on the Sogo's !!!

Oh Val,
don't complain! I've got plants completely frozen when they arrived - and the vendor didn't care! I got plants after six weeks - postal services couldn't deliver it because of an incomplete address - and the vendor didn care! I lost all plants!! And the vendors are two of germans biggest...needless to say, that I never wanted to buy there again!
Like Leda very much. Indeed I'm no friend of the "new" freckled stuartianas out there; line breeding has changed the white stuartiana to a hybrid in itself! I suppose Leda will even grow easier, as most stuartianas are poor growers.
Enjoy your plant for it is really lovely!

Fer

Shame it's not what you ordered, and that the vendor didn't care. However to my eye I do prefer this hybrid, even though the species is more distinctive. Knowing what it is is also a bonus.

I can tell you one thing: this little Leda will never feel unwanted in my collection :)