wow, congratulations..
sue

Awesome! That really was fast growth! Next time I make a purchase, I will try Carter and Holmes. What else did you buy from them that really took off?

Thanks, liz and sue. That tiny thing was small, but vigorous from Day 1, never any trouble. I've heard that some with red ancestries bloom pretty young.

Liz, in March I only got one other phal (the others were various Slc and Epc). The Phal was Black Lion x Br Precious Stones. It was a little bigger to start with. It also grew nicely, but no spike yet.

I bought some more phals from them 9/07. Got Newberry Parfait, which immediately set a spike. Really lovely white with pink lip and clear pink picotee edge. The white is very bright and clear.

Carolina Bronze Meteor, a waxy orange ( rusty red?) with pictotee. Several yellows.

All have grown, but no spikes yet. And a beautiful little Doritis x P lindenii with speckled leaves.

They have a couple of other unusual ones I'm eyeing for another order in March.

Lots of people here like C & H. You do get good plants from them. They offer small plants pretty cheap, and you get a free one with each five ordered :).

mehitabel,

Great job!! Your youngster is encouragment for all of us. I'll be watching for your first bloom fotos!

I received a freebie Phal seedling from Howard G of Bedford Orchids last summer. It arrived as a recently removed compot baby. I potted it into a 1" pot at that time. Today, I gave it a new home in a 2" pot--because it needed it!

I hope that mine is on a fast track, like yours!!

--Stitz--

Hey, Stitz. Thanks for the kind words. Would you believe I tried all spring and summer to get an order in at Bedford?

Just total bad luck, no answer to emails or messages at office. Finally I got a reply to my email saying he had just found it, did I still want them after all this time. I replied yes, but he must have lost it again. :)

I figured it was not-to-beee in 07 and that it had taken me too long to whittle my list down. Just resolved to order a lot earlier in 08. He sure has some wonderful things.

Is there a special trick to getting an order in or was I just the bad luck kid this year?

I love how fast phal seedlings bloom. My two compots from Norton last March are all in two or three inch pots and 12 of the 14 are in spike. You have to love a plant so eager to bloom. It really is true if you change the media every three months, they have a big growth spurt after a repot.

By next month, I will be posting pictures of never before seen phal blooms. I hope they don't bark.

Brooke

mehitabel, Howard Ginsberg is a busy lawyer in Montreal. The BEST way to work with him is to EMAIL him first. Then, follow-up with a telephone call to his office within a couple days, while it is still fresh in his memory. HG's ofc tel# is found in the web site. Although Ginsberg lives in Canada, he ships within the USA from an American address.

I have a Penang Girl 'Ching Ruey' to show for my diligent efforts. A friend of mine isn't as persistent. She had much the same experience as what you described.

Howard G is a good ol' boy! Persevere. Your patience will be rewarded with good plants.

--Stitz--

Thanks, Stitz. Glad to hear my emails didn't have bad breath or anything :)

I'll try your tip about the email then message 3 days later double whammy this Spring, see if I can break the code and actually get a plant.

The lists there are very enticing, but when I don't hear back for a while I find I've wandered over to Norman's or Big Leaf and been roped in by the beauties there (and spent all my money).

Got a good Penang Girl 'Ching Ruey' at Chesterfield Orchids this spring. "B" grade-- little sunburn, but it's been vigorous and grown well.

Wow great news!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is the coolest. I dont have any phals in my collection i need to add some this one might be a good start!.Id like take the time to say sorry for the delay on my photo diary :(( but it will be done on monday night! our computer is having issues and i cant upload photos so we are trying to get it fixed, but i wanted to let you know i am sorry and i feel badly that its taking so long. i didnt want you to think i dont keep my word!!!!! as soon as this is resolved its will be up!!!!1 sorry!

I know exactly what you mean - that's just the absolutely fantastic thing about phals! Clouds orchids here has an area where there are battered but decontaminated and otherwise healthy plants...I have several phals from that rack which are now flowering with many leaves...It just makes me so happy! :D

Hey, Calvin. Really delighted that you aren't a phal snob. :) They are such grateful things, just bloom and bloom. Rich rewards for very little effort.

I've drooled over the lists at Clouds many times. Being able to shop there directly and buy off a special rack would be soooo good.

Hi, Sam. I never thought for a moment you wouldn't keep your word. I just wanted you to know a lot of us are really looking forward to seeing your album of pictures about the way catt buds develop.

About phals: You really will enjoy phals, I think. There are so many different kinds and colors, there's beauty for anyone's eye in them, IMO.

I started to grow them because I needed something that gave more flowers for less work. Trying to grow high light orchids was too hard in summer (not to mention winter).

What sold me on phals was the ease of blooming them, and the fast growth. You can buy small ones fairly cheap, and get blooms within a year or at most two.

Below is the url to the Carter & Holmes page. They have a lot of really nice ones. You'll enjoy looking, I'm sure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Carter & Holmes phals

Mehitabel, can you work that magic on my Schilleriana?

hey, t-bred. Don't I wish! My magic doesn't even work on my own schillie hybrid. :)

Good going, Mehitabel!

I'll take some of that culture in my morning coffee :) and look forward to pictures of Precious Stones.

Sweetcicely