Phalaenopsis that just won't quit.

[jackb]

A woman told me a long time ago that Phalaenopsis flowers last so long you get sick of looking at them. At the time I did not believe her but I do now. This plant bloomed in early spring, and here six months later it is still blooming. The flowers are so heavy I have to tie the plant to 2" x 3" post to keep it from falling over. The plant shows no sign of dropping the flowers.

 

[so lucky]

You have an enviable problem, Jack. I feel sorry for you. By the way, what is the little purple orchid on the table amongst all the others?

 

[jackb]

You have an enviable problem, Jack. I feel sorry for you. By the way, what is the little purple orchid on the table amongst all the others?

That plant is also a Phalaenopsis and what you see are seed pods. I cross-pollinated that miniature plant with the monster that refuses to quit flowering, the offspring may be interesting.

Too bad the plants are not fragrant, that would make them fantastic.

 

[Carol Dee]

A woman told me a long time ago that Phalaenopsis flowers last so long you get sick of looking at them. At the time I did not believe her but I do now. This plant bloomed in early spring, and here six months later it is still blooming. The flowers are so heavy I have to tie the plant to 2" x 3" post to keep it from falling over. The plant shows no sign of dropping the flowers.

View attachment 28818

Blooming for SIX Months! !!!! I have yet to keep on alive for 6 months.

 

[Nyboy]

I used to keep cut flowers from florist on desk. I learned much cheaper in long run to buy a Phalaenopsis more weeks of flower for less money. Carol they are so ez treat like cactus, there roots cant stand being wet

 

[Pulsegleaner]

There are some other orchids that buck the finicky reputation the genus has.

Back when I was a kid I there was an orchid aficionado who used to come to the farmers market from whom I bought a lot of plants. Most of them were "flower once" then die but one of them a Coleacanethes amazonicum (note: I have almost certainly misspelled the genus name) proved incredibly resilient. Moreover, so long as it was given water regularly and kept somewhere moist (I used a cloche) it kept flowering repeatedly. I'd probably still have it if it wasn't for the radiator incident. (we had a very cold spell, which sent the radiator into overdrive and all the plants there roasted).

 

[so lucky]

Opinion time: If orchids were fragrant, what would they smell like? (Other than the obvious answer of "orchid")
Orchids are so flamboyant, it seems to me they should have a flamboyant smell. Like...lily, or English rose.
What if it smelled like dead fish? Rotten eggs?

 

[Pulsegleaner]

According to this, there are some scented orchids.
https://www.houseplant411.com/askjudy/can-you-recommend-ant-scented-orchids

Since a lot of of European Alpine orchids get pollinated by looking like a female bee or wasp. I imagine that, if those smelled they'd smell like horny she-bee pheromones.

 

[ninnymary]

I used to keep cut flowers from florist on desk. I learned much cheaper in long run to buy a Phalaenopsis more weeks of flower for less money. Carol they are so ez treat like cactus, there roots cant stand being wet

I did this for a while too. Used to buy them at Trader Joe's where they're cheap. Didn't care that they weren't exotic or anything. Heck, I may buy one this weekend!

Mary

 

[Nyboy]

Trader Joe's has the best orchids !!!!!