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Phal wilsonii? Phal honghenensis?

Discussion in 'Orchid Culture' started by Alexis, Apr 4, 2009.

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  1. Apr 4, 2009 #1
    Alexis

    Alexis New Member

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    Jon, Marni, and any others growing this:

    Thanks to Jon's post a few months ago, I purchased a plant from Andy's website that was indicated as being P wilsoni (honghenensis). Andy's cultural advice said this would grow cool to warm.

    In researching this phal on both the Bakers' website and Jay's site, I don't find reference to these being synonyms. Both sites list the names separately, though some may think them synonymous. Any definitive answer?

    My bigger conundrum is that, despite Andy's indication that this can be warm growing, it appears it is nowhere near that. Baker's says of wilsonii "...probably cannot tolerate hot summer weather." Those of you that grow it, what's the warmest average your plant tolerates? I definitely have hot summer weather here in South Florida.

    I do have an orchidarium that maintains intermediate temps, but it will frost my a** if I have to put it in there. (No room... not what I thought I was purchasing, etc.)

    I tried calling Andy's for clarification, but didn't get an answer on this Saturday at 4PM.

    Any advice would be greatly appreciately!
     
  2. Apr 4, 2009 #2
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Alexis, in taxonomy there rarely is a definitive answer, it is a rather flexible field and things get moved around as more information comes to light or some taxonomist throws a temper tantrum. I just looked it up in Eric Christenson's Monograph and he has them listed as separate species. P honghenensis is the first species Phal that I grew and Eric C confirmed that it was properly labeled. The most remarkable thing to me was the fragrance, just like grape koolaid. I also grow a plant that came as P wilsonii (and I trust the source), but have never noticed a fragrance (doesn't mean it isn't there). I have grown P honghenensis with some daytime highs in the 90's and occasionally 100F though usually not over 80F and average winter nights about 50, though they have gone down to 40 on occasion. Previously I had been growing the wilsoni in the 55 to 80 range but this winter put it out in another greenhouse with the P honghenensis. I just noticed that the buds that were forming on the wilson appear to be blasting (could be the last 3 nights of 40 because I didn't notice the pilot was out?). Both of these get a fairly dry winter which is especially important if you are growing them cold.

    It is just past 2:30 California try, so give him another try.
     
  3. Apr 4, 2009 #3
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I just looked at the elevation range for P wilsoni and it is from as low as 800 m (2640 ft). That is pretty low and can be quite hot and humid during the growing season without a great amount of cooling at night. I would think that if you can give it a cooler, dry rest in the winter it has a good chance.
     
  4. Apr 4, 2009 #4
    Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    I don't know what the physical differences between the species are. The images I posted recently are of an Andy's plant with the same tag that I purchased in... 2005? I've grown and bloomed it with my restrepias and masdies in the basement, and I've grown and bloomed it with my bulbos in the GH.
     
  5. Apr 4, 2009 #5
    abaxter

    abaxter New Member

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    I grow these two (or the same one depending on who's sayin') along with all my other
    Phal. species (60F-90F) mounted and hanging on a rack. It seems quite tolerant to me and gets no special treatment.
     
  6. Apr 5, 2009 #6
    Alexis

    Alexis New Member

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    Many thanks to all of you! I will give it a try outside.
     
  7. Apr 5, 2009 #7
    Doc Elly

    Doc Elly Member

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    My experience growing several flasks of plants labeled Phal wilsonii is about what others have said. The place where they grow best sometimes gets up to 90s in the daytime on sunny summer days, but cools down to probably low 60s at night. In the winter it sometimes gets down to low 40s at night, possibly lower on really cold nights. I keep the plants dry in the winter, and all of mine lost their leaves this year. They're now growing their leaves again, and look great. These plants seem highly tolerant of a variety of conditions except maybe cold and wet.
     
  8. Apr 6, 2009 #8
    Alexis

    Alexis New Member

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    Thanks, Elly!
     
  9. Nov 6, 2009 #9
    Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    How did your plant hold up this summer, Alexis?
     
  10. Nov 6, 2009 #10
    Alexis

    Alexis New Member

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    Not so great. It died a quick, painful (for me) death. :(
     
  11. Nov 6, 2009 #11
    Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    Oh. Sorry to have brought it up.
     
  12. Nov 6, 2009 #12
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Bummer.
     
  13. Nov 6, 2009 #13
    Pook

    Pook Disneyed

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    Was it the heat or some other factor?
     
  14. Nov 7, 2009 #14
    abaxter

    abaxter New Member

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    Are you absolutely sure it's dead, Alexis? Mine loses its leaves in the winter and looks
    dead as a doornail, but it always pops back out in the spring.
     
  15. Nov 7, 2009 #15
    Alexis

    Alexis New Member

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    I'm pretty sure it's dead. It never had more than one leaf, which is long gone. The roots are dessicated and brown, and have been since very shortly after it arrived. Pook, I believe it just failed to acclimate to my climate from Andy's. I haven't discarded it yet, but only because I'm beligerant and not because I think it's going to spring back from the dead.

    Of my +/- 15 Phal species, this is the only one that has croaked under my care.
     
  16. Feb 27, 2010 #16
    Alexis

    Alexis New Member

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    I'm going to try this one again. I acquired a fairly large mount with 2 plants on it; lots of roots. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
     
  17. Feb 27, 2010 #17
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    So what is this:

    awww.firstrays.com_Pictures_orchids_Phal_stobartiana.jpg
     
  18. Feb 27, 2010 #18
    Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    I dunno, Ray. I've never seen the original descriptions. I love it, though. It looks identical to the plant I got from Andy tagged as wilsonii, but...
     
  19. Feb 28, 2010 #19
    abaxter

    abaxter New Member

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    Ray, that bloom doesn't look like either my hong. or wilson. Sorta looks like an equestris
    cross to me. Alexis, I just noticed that you mentioned the grape koolaid fragrance and
    that's exactly what Phal. modesta smells like. Is it possible that you have modesta
    rather than hong. or wilson? I have approximately 60 Phal. species and primary crosses
    and modesta is the only one that has that distinctive smell.
     
  20. Feb 28, 2010 #20
    Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

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    My "wilsonii" smells very sweet & almost creamy. Do you have the descriptions of these species, Angela? I'd love to have a look see if you can scan them or something.
     
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