Blooming size - A matter of perspective

[Mr.Fakename]

While watering, I noticed my Phal lobbii is preparing it's first bloom.

It was near the gigantea, and I found the size difference highly amusing.

Here's what a now adult lobbii looks like compared to a baby freaking gigantea

[Roberta]

A picture worth 1000 words! I love it!

[DirtyCoconuts]

Hahahahaha relativity is sucking me in!!!!

[camille1585]

Fantastic photo! And then that makes you wonder how much bigger that gigantea is going to get before reaching adult size! Phal gigantea teaches patience, I got one as a tiny seedling in 2014, and it's probably still has quite a bit of growing to do...

Just for a visual reference, what are the pot sizes? (It seems that the little one is in a faisselle pot? Those make excellent pots for small orchids!)

[Mr.Fakename]

I love them so much, but was never able to get my hands on a good one until recently. Those wavy, silvery leaves are so coooool! No wonder where they got their name from...

How big is yours? I saw your threads about it but you didn't share bloom pics!

The small pot is totally normal and is 5cm (the Phal cornu cervi behind is actually in a faisselle pot, spot on!); the big one doesn't mention a size and the plant is in the way.

I've heard that gigantea are master sulker when repotting, so I'm low-key considering putting it in S/H and calling it a day.

(More visual reference below)

[camille1585]

Oh wow, that lobbii is TINY!!!

My gigantea is a big bigger than yours, longest leaf is 26cm. The spike nubbin that started developing in the spring never did anything... I removed all the old nasty bark without taking the plant out of the pot, and replaced it with leca pebbles. I don't want to put it in S/H because of the evaporative cooling effect, but growing in leca means that I won't have to repot again (which gigantea hates) and I can water it a bit more like a mount (every 2-3 days). I have no idea how it will work out in the long run, so fingers crossed!

[Mr.Fakename]

That's so frustrating, I feel you... With the heatwave most of my Phal did the same thing and gave up on their spikes.
Phal stuartiana even kept the spike nubbin and started a new one instead of using the first, go figure.

That's exactly the solution I was looking for, thanks!
Did it react to the change or didn't seem to mind?

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

That's exactly the solution I was looking for, thanks!
Did it react to the change or didn't seem to mind?

Going by the explosion of root growth I saw this summer, I'd say that it seems to really like the faster wet/dry cycles (with bark it was once per week watering). I just wish I could solve the problem of the nasty pitting that develops on the leaves, it looks awful and the plant sheds them more quickly. It's been a problem for the past 3 years.

[Mr.Fakename]

Oh that's great information, your experience is really welcome

I'm not entirely sure I understand what you mean, sorry. Can you upload pics?

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Oh that's great information, your experience is really welcome

I'm not entirely sure I understand what you mean, sorry. Can you upload pics?

I assume your question is about the pitting on the leaves? Attached are 2 photos. In one you see the newest leaf, completely healthy. In the other the pitting is somewhat visible, it develops on the older leaves