Welcome to OrchidsForum.com. We are a friendly online community for Orchid Growers all over the world. If you haven't joined yet we invite you to register and join our community. Hope to see you on our forums!

Phalaenopsis gigantea

Discussion in 'Orchid Species' started by EdM, Sep 11, 2011.

Tags:
  1. EdM

    EdM Member in Good Standing

    Messages:
    201
    Likes Received:
    48
    Location:
    Nashville, Tennessee
    My Phalaenopsis gigantea is blooming out in the greenhouse. This species comes from Borneo, Sabah, and Sarawak, where it grows in lowland swamps. It's now nearly extinct in the wild. The species is named for the plant size rather than flower size. My plant is about twelve years old and about two feet across...probably three feet if the leaves were stretched out. Flower size is about two and quarter inches. This plant bloomed in March for our spring show and I didn't expect it to bloom again until winter. It was in full bud a couple of weeks ago when I simply had to repot it due to deteriorated moss. I repotted it in fresh moss and it hasn't skipped a beat. I hang the plant in bright light at a 45 degree angle to allow the leaves to droop and the dependant flower stems to form. The plant is so heavy that I use two pots for the hook and melt many extra drainage holes in both pots.
    phal_gigantea2011a.jpg phal_gigantea2011b.jpg phal_gigantea2011c.jpg
     
  2. Jon

    Jon Mmmm... bulbophyllum...

    Messages:
    4,437
    Likes Received:
    107
    Location:
    Denver CO, USA
    Oh man... that's beautiful.
     
  3. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    6,563
    Likes Received:
    2,362
    Location:
    Redding, California, USA
    Magnificent!!!
     
  4. Uluwehi

    Uluwehi angraecoids, dendrobiums and more Supporting Member

    Messages:
    1,973
    Likes Received:
    124
    Fantastic!
     
  5. gnathaniel

    gnathaniel Lurker Supporting Member

    Messages:
    784
    Likes Received:
    36
    Location:
    Athens GA, USA
    Wow! So much better than any of the hybrids made from it (IMO). Quite a majestic plant.
     
  6. piotrm

    piotrm Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    326
    Location:
    Grimsby UK
    WOW
     
  7. orcoholic

    orcoholic Member

    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    20
    Nice. Notoriously difficult to bloom.
     
  8. Alexis

    Alexis New Member

    Messages:
    2,893
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Redland, Miami FL, USA, Earth
    What a monster! Love it.
     
  9. Zack

    Zack Will work for plants Supporting Member

    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    23
    Location:
    New Orleans, LA
    FEED ME, SEYMOUR.
     
    Paul Richardson likes this.
  10. ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

    Messages:
    1,435
    Likes Received:
    164
    Location:
    Exeter, PA
    A monster is right! Well done ED.
     
  11. TheBlazingAugust

    TheBlazingAugust JUST . . ONE . . MORE!!!

    Messages:
    80
    Likes Received:
    0
    That is a HUGE plant and awesome flowers!!!
     
  12. aerangis

    aerangis New Member

    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Beautiful specimen, from the look of it I'd say it's quite content with the conditions you're growing it in.
     
  13. DPfarr

    DPfarr Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,534
    Likes Received:
    562
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Take great pride in all the adjectives said about your plant sir! Every one of them is applicable for such an exemplary plant.
     
  14. Pappa47

    Pappa47 Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    4
    Nature has a splendid palette at her disposal- but the human touch is in the growing of this splendid specimen....enough said.
     
  15. aerangis

    aerangis New Member

    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    And notoriously variable in flower quality and size. I'm curious if that's a cloned cultivar or seed grown.

    Is it me, or do the flowers have a strong resemblance to a vanda?
     
  16. Reyna

    Reyna Orchid Obsessed Supporting Member

    Messages:
    984
    Likes Received:
    86
    Location:
    Arkansas, USA
    I love the leaves on this species. They make me want to run my fingers down the leaves all the time in my little greenhouse. Your plant is not only a gigantic monster, it also has great flowers. The red splotches seem to be clear-not fuzzy around the edges.

    Good growing. Clearly that plant likes what you are doing.