Hi Kvetch! Nice to see you here! I don’t know about the variety since I only grow phals. If you have a Trader Joe’s nearby you may want to swing by periodically to check their stock. Seems a cheesy place to buy orchids, but I have found a few interesting ones there lately and if you catch them when the shipment first arrived, they are quite healthy. I found a beautiful Phal almost that color just Sunday. I can take a pic tomorrow. My oldest Phal that I’ve had for 20 years (yikes!) is a little white mutt Phal that I bought at Home Depot all those years ago so I don’t thumb my nose up at those stores ;). It is beautiful now and has three huge spikes! Over the summer I just fed it whatever the citrus got and all my orchids are looking great!

I have half a dozen of those "Phal Type/Hard Cane" Dendrobiums to give to members of an Orchid Society as gift plants at the Christmas Function. Only problem is that they are regarded as difficult here in the Sub Tropics, might be easier in Centrally Homes in zone 7 in winter.

The orchid in the picture is lovely, a high quality example of the type.

Hi Laura!! I've been slowly expanding my plant collection :) I never realized how many exotic flowers we can grow indoors if we just try. I'm also too impatient for those lemons to develop lol. I also love going to Trader Joes for their phals! They have such a good variety of mini phals compared to other places. I can't resist the minis! And I agree, when I check at the right time they're usually in great condition at the price they're offered. In fact, I'm planning to stop by Trader Joes today! Lately I stopped going to Trader Joes to resist looking at their phals otherwise I'd end up buying one every time I visited. But my boyfriend needs to buy something in that area so now I've got anexcuse to look at their phals :)

I can't believe you've had a phal growing for 20 years! I'd say if they're in good condition then it's definitely worth getting if you love how it looks. What media has your phal been potted in for all these years? I'm considering going pure inorganic but I can't help but wonder how you've kept yours so happy for so long!

Kvetch, I have had it planted in a regular orchid mix (from Home Depot) all these years but it has been repotted from time to time. It desperately needed to be repotted so I did a few weeks ago even though it was growing spikes, but it did not slow it down one bit...as happy as ever. I’ll take a pic for you. Now I did change the potting mix this time to one from rePotme.com because I love their phal mix, which is more sphagnum moss based. I read about orchids and their life span and although some said they puttered out after 20 years, mine is as strong as it has ever been - in fact, this is the first time it has grown three spikes. All summer, I kept in in a shady spot outside (along with my other orchids) and just squirted them with the hose with whatever the citrus got - Peters and FE towards the end of their time outdoors.

Oh goodness your phal and lemon tree look gorgeous! Your phal is all shiny and glossy it's beautiful! And congrats on those three spikes. You'd think with three spikes the phal might put out fewer buds on each one but there's so many buds! I suspect your citrus will also live up to 20 years with you. Looking at your phal one thing is for sure, potting media has nothing to do with it! And by the way, the holiday fever hasn't stopped Trader Joe's from stocking up on orchids. They had some great phals and I think I went on a day they restocked because I found a special phal!

Thank you arthurm, I haven't done as much research on dendrobiums so at least knowing it's a 'hard cane' type will teach me a lot more in the future! That's unfortunate about the sub-tropic issue. Would there be any species type that is more geared towards warm environments or no winter rests? I know Masdevallia is a pain to grow in our northern climates but it seems there are a select few that are more hardy and adaptive and may be able grow in temperate climates..maybe. Perhaps there may a Dendrobium like that

That is a great find!! Beautiful! I need to swing by myself ;). Kvetch, I was orchid obsessed many years ago and had dendrobiums, oncidiums, and a couple of cattleyas. I ended up giving all the others away and only keeping the phals. I know that those other varieties are stunning and fragrant, but 1) I found they needed more light to bloom than the phals, and 2) the blooms did not last as long. I made a decision that I only wanted phals and those are all I’ve kept all these years. I don’t have a greenhouse, so I am more limited.

I can understand why you would only keep the phals. Your citrus are doing so well, they really need all the indoor light it can get while its winter. I'm trying to be careful getting those other orchid varieties for the same reason. There's a few I've seen online that have stolen my heart though. Like the Iwanagara Apple Blossom, do you know of that one? It is so wonderful and lovely, it's on the very top of my orchid wish list! I hope you find something special on your next TJ visit :) There were quite a few interesting patterns I hadn't seen before

The pic. of the citrus is the reason I always say that real orchid growers live in the frozen north.

There are some orchids that need seasons such as Nobile/Softcane Dendrobiums that do not like Glass-Houses and here are best kept outside all year under some Shade-Cloth. An average winter's day, sunny with the minimum temperature in the low 40's F and maximum temp of about 60F is a bit hard to achieve in a centrally heated home. Those warmer growing Hard-Cane Dendrobiums might be a better bet in colder Climates.

Here is the Sub-tropics there are two Citrus down the yard. Small trees is the best description.

No orchid grower is ever happy, they always want to grow something that is just about impossible in their Climate.

I find in my sub tropical environment very easy to grow hard and soft cane dens. Easier for the hard cane. But around here the favorite food for spider mites are dens. I have found better methods of managing the damn things and currently clear of them. We grow citrus well. But the last several years they have a nasty citrus disease they can't control. The citrus yield has been steadily falling.

Arthur, I thought your zone was about the same. Somewhat different I guess...

Kvetchlambkin, that new phal is very special! I actually prefer that really rich deep jewel tone setting off those bright white details to the other one with the flat near-black flowers (though I know one person's "meh" is another person's treasure!). The one you ended up with is really beautiful!

Thank you Dannie! The phal is actually a bit more dark purple plum in reality, less red than the photos show but it's a really beautiful contrast of solid colors. I remember thinking the den phal photo not being color accurate since we were under indoor fluorescent lighting but it was an interesting flower color. Not as black as the photo shows but more dark red/plum purple with a pale yellow outline. I know what you mean though! I haven't figured out my exact tastes for orchids yet but I don't always see the beauty in some plants that other people see.

Finding that dark red phal at TJs does fill a bit of that regret so I'm very happy with my special phal! It also helps to know the Kaoda Twinkle is fragrant :)) if you guys see this one, I recommend it! One defining trait along with the contrasting solid plum and white is the split lip. And the backwards curving petals and sepals.

Those USDA cold hardiness zones are better than no information all. The climate of Sydney, Australia is nothing like say, Miami. The only thing similar is the coldest nights you can expect in winter, Brrrrr!

if you really love an orchid at first sight then you love it no matter what, NOID or not.

Well said and I agree.

I agree totally with the NOID comment! I have orchids I LOVE and have no idea what their exact lineage is. If it brings me joy, it’s name is irrelevant -plus, my daughter names them all anyways ;). Kvetch, nice find at TJ! I went and came away with three! Yikes! I repotted them today and they are sitting among my citrus by windows and under lights. I’m afraid to go back bc of what new one I’ll find! I’ll post pics later.

Yep a lesson learned when that perfect NOID got away. Hahah my bad! Maybe suggesting a TJs visit wasn't such a good idea after all! Can't wait to see what goodies you got though!

Oh don’t even ask...I got waaay too many. One really cool mini phal...let me take a quick pic for you...

Laura, I have one like that in spike now! It's a small one, white with vivid purple spots! At first I was confused, waiting for it to full open, but now I quite like my little peloric pal. :)

Sorry Laura! I haven't checked gardenweb in awhile so I didn't get to reply to your photos. I love the colors on those phals! Especially that vivid purple one. I've seen some phals with that unique coloring and it's so beautiful, it looks almost velvety. Great choices :)

I like the peloric ones too! My pink peloric mini phal is on its way to the grave but I got it when I was a complete newb and it already had bad roots. I actually went by TJs today and picked up almost the same pink phal but non-peloric. I'm very happy they always carry the majority of the same mini phals with a few minis with new patterns. I grabbed another mini as well, I couldn't resist the beautiful pattern! I will try to post a photo of the new mini soon. Hoping you all have a Happy Holidays :)