Phalaenopsis Mini Mark 'Holm'

This is one of the few hybrid orchids I own and one of only three Phalaenopsis.  It is a very small plant, a hybrid of the species, Phalaenopsis philippinense and Phalaenopsis Micro Nova.  It blooms in the spring and is grown on a bathroom windowsill, since it requires warmer temperatures than my other orchids.

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Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba

I do not grow but a couple of Phalaenopsis since I have neither the room nor the conditions for them.  The couple I do grow are not in my orchidarium but on a bathroom windowsill.  This is one of them, Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba, a variety without the usual purple markings of this species.  It is from Sumatra and Malaysia and blooms consecutively on stems that continue to lengthen for years.  It is not only very beautifully colored, in my opinion, but has a wonderful fragrance on warm summer days.  The plant can become very large with broad flat leaves, but the flowers are around 4 cm.

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Phalaenopsis Mini Mark 'Holm'

I have only a couple Phalaenopsis, all of them smaller plants that are grown on a bathroom windowsill.  This is one of them, a hybrid of Phalaenopsis philippinense and Phalaenopsis Micro Nova.  It is a small plant and the flowers, too, are small, about 3 cm.  It blooms in the fall and is easy to grow and flower.

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Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba.

I purchased this species as a tiny seedling and it has been in bloom off and on for several years now, as is characteristic of the species, which blooms on long lasting flower spikes that produce only one flower at a time but do so over many years.  The ordinary form of this species has purple coloring especially on the lower parts of the flower, but this is a colorless form or alba.  Phalaenopsis violacea is from Malaysia and Sumatra.

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Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba

Once Phalaenopsis violacea begins to bloom, it is seldom out of bloom, since the flower spikes continue to lengthen and produce flowers, usually a few at a time.  The species is from Southeast Asia and is very fragrant, especially when it is warm.  My plant is still quite small but already has two flower spikes.

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Phalaenopsis violacea var. alba

I do not grow many Phalaenopsis: never have, with the exception of a couple species and one miniature hybrid.  This is one of the two species I am growing at present.  I purchased it as a seedling and it is blooming for the first time with two flower spikes.  I had hoped for slightly better flower form than this, but love the color and the scent.  It grows in moss and on a bathroom windowsill with a couple other Phalaenopsis and some Paphiopedilums.

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Phalaenopsis Be Tris 'Zuma Nova'

This is really a switch from my previous posts.  This is not a miniature, is not cool-growing, is not grown in my orchidarium, but I thought I'd post it anyway.  It is one of only a couple Phalaenopsis plants I still have, including a couple of species, and is grown on a bathroom windowsill with a southern exposure and good strong but diffused light through the privacy glass.

It is blooming here for the first time and looks like it will have quite a few small but attractive flowers.  I haven't made up my mind yet whether I'll keep it or trade it, but will probably enjoy the flowers for a while first.  The flowers are only 4 cm by 5 cm but the plant is a typical Phalaenopsis and though probably not full grown is about 35-40 cm across.

The plant is a cross of Phalaenopsis Be Glad and Phalaenopsis equestris, and this particular clone has an award from the American Orchid Society, a Highly Commended Certificate (HCC/AOS).  The cross was made by Krull-Smith in 1989, so it is quite old, but has quite a few awards, this one given in 2001.  As far as I can tell the flowers are not fragrant.

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