Phals in Australia

[Kassey77]

Is it just me or are there a lot more varieties of phals available overseas than in Australia? All I seem to see here are the white, the pink and the striated pink flowers. Overseas growers seem to have so much variety - colors and sizes and even foliage.
Does anyone know any good nurseries down-under?

[kmarch]

In only the few short years I have been jodging orchids here in Australia I have noticed an increase in the number and variety of Phals showing up at orchid shows so they're around here somewhere. I notice a lot fo Phals of various types beign sold on eBay. The seller has good feedback but I have never bought from them.

There are lots of Ausies on this forum so I imaging some of them will be able to recommend places you can buy them.

The quarentine and treatments required for mature plants being brought into Australia have curtailed the number of orchids brought in. The pesticide treatments are very harsh and those that survive treatment face a long quarentine often in the care of someone who doesn't know how to care for orchids. What all of this means is that we don't have as much variety or choice as folks have in other countries that don't have such a process. But things are gradually improving as the plants brought in in flasks years ago are starting to appear on the market and at shows.

[fred]

Have you tried Royale Orchids Kassey ?

[Kassey77]

Thanks Kevin,

That's pretty much what I thought. I heard they've been getting a few more plants in but it takes time to get them going and it will be a few years yet before the flowering size plants will be on sale for a decent price.

Plus I wanted to make sure we weren't getting short-changed here in NSW as per everything else

If anyone knows any good suppliers I'm all ears!

[Kassey77]

I have been to the Royale Orchids nursery Fred. The set-up is great but the only other variety they have is a yellow/pink bloom and they weren't particularly big.

I have internet envy of all those dark reds, whites with random spots, pure yellows etc they seem to sell on every site overseas!

[fred]

have a look through the ones in this link
Orchids and Orchid Nurseries, orchid plants, potted orchids and orchid care, orchid growing media,orchid images and supplies Online

I would also be asking at your local orchid society

[tina jacobs]

I live in south Africa and we get very beautiful phals here and the variety is quite big here. at first I went from nursery to nursery and then I wrote in to this forum and a guy from Australia actually helped me out with a web site where I could find the name and numbers of breeders and low and behold I met a really nice old man with a collection I could kill for I hope someone can help you good luck

[Ron]

Hi Kassy77.
I have grown orchids for a long time and only in the last 2-3 years or so I have given Phallies a go as I never had a orchid house to suit their growing conditions.
Hopefully I now how.
a friend & I at the same time had the same problem as you.
we solved it buy buying Phallie flasks at Orchid conferences from visiting nursery from Taiwan.
A lot were crosses and we bought as much colour range as we could find to see how the grew.
They are now starting to flower and boy are they of great size and quality.
we are very happy. average time for us has been 2 year or more.
we will get it down to pat soon.
They are so easy to deflask and grow away very quickly into nice plants
Conference in Perth later this year and in Victoria next year check them out
Fong Ping in Qld have some very nice plants also.
Best of luck
Ron

[PhalPal]

Originally Posted by Kassey77

I have internet envy of all those dark reds, whites with random spots, pure yellows etc they seem to sell on every site overseas!

I had to laugh because I can SOOOO relate! I have forbidden myself to look at Aussie sites and your gorgeous, delicious cascading Cymbidiums. It usually puts me on a unwinable wild goose chase looking for an orchid I will never have. So, I go out and buy a pretty new Phal.

[Kassey77]

PhalPal, it's always the way isn't it!! haha
I have to admit that buying a nice collection of Cymbidiums wasn't that hard here and maybe I should just be happy about that
I thought California had some nice Cymbidiums as one of the best web-sites I have ever found was based from there, and the nursery I bought a few Cymbidiums from actually got flasks from the California show.

[Kassey77]

Hi Ron,
The flasks might be a good idea! Do you know if they sell them in any Sydney shows?
What sort of colour spectrum did you get?
Kassey

[PhalPal]

Kassey I have pretty much raped and pillaged (sp?) most of the orchid farms in Santa Barbara!!

[Ron]

Hi Kassy.
Fong Ping from Qld ( Ph Edited PM For Details ) comes down to most of the bigger shows they sell flasks and plants and I believe they have a home nursery in Taiwan to draw from
Easy Orchids from Woodburn near Sydney also import flasks from time to time for you.
contact Murray at Easy Orchids

We find the best range are at big conference were the actual nursery owners from Taiwan etc can bring your order in without you doing all the importing paper work.
There range is often very big. Lots of species also.
On average the plants are also very good size see photo below

These are the size from flasks few months ago.
they are 3 inch pots

Cheerio
Ron

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Kassey77

Hi Ron,
The flasks might be a good idea! Do you know if they sell them in any Sydney shows?
What sort of colour spectrum did you get?
Kassey

If you intend to go overseas in the near future I believe you can bring in up to four flasks of orchids on your person without needing any phytosanitary/import paperwork (others may wish to correct me on this). Flasks will need to be free of infection and it helps to speak to a contactable customs official prior to bringing them in as customs officers at the airports don't always have a thorough knowledge of what can be brought in or what a sterile flask should look like. I have heard stories of customs officers holding back flasks due to opaque media (from to charcoal) and misidentified contamination (which turned out to be protocorms!!!) Species are, however, subject to CITES requirements.