Mini Phal Question

[Steve B]

I recently read an article that claimed mini phals. require different growing conditions than a standard phal.

Has anybody else heard/read this before?

Steve

[mayres]

Maybe they require something different for optimum culture, but I grow them all together with no problem.

[tom499]

Depends on the variety really, they usually like it abit shadier than normal phals. Most mini phals are species or primary hybrids, and so arent as easy going as the standard hybrids sold in most shops. They like abit more humidity, and can be abit ore delicate with their media, dont let them get too wet.

Part from that they grow fine, as mayres says, stick them with normal phals, they'll get the extra shade from the larger plants, and abit more humidity from the transpiration.

[Tobi]

Hi Steve,
The only thing that I've heard from some of the local growers around here
is that they grow them with higher humidity and really good air circulation.
One of them is currently experimenting with a finer grade bark as well for
his minis.

[brookn]

I keep mine in with the others as well. I have heard of a few that like higher light requirements. I personally feel that the plant will dictate what it wants. With all the phals I have, I find that each one differs a bit within the general requirements for phals. Some like a different mix, some a little more light...I just carefully monitor them until I know if they are happy in the conditions they are in. Hope that makes sense.

[PhalPal]

I am going on the fact they like the same requirements but are more exacting in what they want. In other words, there is less margin for error on our part.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The only miniature that I have, and I have a number, that needs something much different is mannii. It needs to be cooler and a lot drier than most Phals during winter. This is a little worrying, as Phals don't have any kind of water reservoir, but I have successfully kept one thru 2 winters and it never shriveled its leaves. I probably left it hard dry for a week at most, but that is enough to disturb me, then gave it a partial drink. Since I was doing OK, I picked up a mannii v. flava. During summer it gets normal Phal culture. Pulchra is supposed to be cool growing, but I killed a couple keeping them on the GH floor. My floor must be really cold. Another pulchra is now at bench level and is doing OK.

[Steve B]

Thank you everybody for your input.
It's interesting reading everyone's responses. The article I referred to actually says that they prefer lower day and night temps. and lower humidity. They state that the species used in breeding come from cool and dry habitats. I guess you can't always believe what you read.

Steve

[Leisurely]

I grow two or three varieties of Phal. equestris that are miniature species. They definitely do not like to be moist all of the time. One is growing on the top side of an inverted clay pot with no media. The large thick roots that it has produced have covered the clay pot. It grows along side the other Phals that get watered once a week. Another nice thing about Phal. equestris is that you can count on kikis at the end of each flower spike after it has completed the bloom cycle.