Phalaenopsis amboinensis

[brookn]

This is my project thread on Phal. amboinensis. I recieved my plant 4/3/08, a Thursday. The leaves were slightly flexed from shipping. One leaf (looked to be the oldest) showing some light mottling. Four leaves approx. 2.5 inches in length. Watered after unpacking, tepid water treated with Supethrive. Sprayed, then soaked 30 minutes. Followed with cinnamon spray.



Watered again 4/8/08. Sprayed, then soaked 30 min. No fertilizer, sprayed with cinnamon spray. Because of the position of the leaves, the crown tends to retain water, so I tipped it on it's side to dry.

At the moment I have not decided on the medium that I am going to use, so it has not been repotted. This also gives the plant some time to adjust to my conditions after the stress of travel. I am planning a repot within a month of recieving it.

[brookn]

Okay so today is one week from arrival. I don't think there is much growth, but it is holding it's own. I am repotting to sphag tomorrow. I will take pics then also.

[brookn]

It has been almost 2 weeks since my last post. I repotted my plant into sphag, because upon depotting, the roots were hmmmm...less than desirable. They looked about like the ones from Mike's post. I decided upon sphag as a possible short term solution. My last batch of sphag just isn't cutting it for me, so this will probably be two or three months in this, then when I see some healthier roots-repotted. You can see in the pics the roots poking out, nice and green, this is a dramatic improvement already over what they did look like when I removed them from their old mix. I decided not to measure, but it looks like it has a small amount of growth, even the weird mottled leaf.

[BillC]

Hi Brook, unfortunately I am not able to take part in the project but I think your plant looks good and healthy. I will follow the growth if you continue to post pics and look forward to your first bloom.

Bill

[PhalPal]

Brook my roots are very questionable also and my leaves are beginning to mottle. I like to mount Phal species, it seems to suit them best, but I couldn't with such poor roots. It will be interesting to see how many of them survive and if so, how they were grown.

[brookn]

Aw, thanks Bill that's sweet of you.

Connie, I was shocked at the roots, especially considering the order that I got from Oak Hill for my B-day was in such great shape. My stuartiana had great roots, and was about the same size as this one when I got it (I actually think it was smaller). The stuartiana has almost doubled in size. I may have to put up some comparison pics of the stuartiana on arrival, and now with the amboinensis. That mottled leaf has been like that since I got it. The other leaves are shiny, and it is dull and mottled, really strange, it actually looks like Neem oil damage to me. The amboinensis is taking a long time to adjust, but the gersenii (which also had issues on arrival) is doing very well and it was really, really small when I got it. Just a big mystery. My Koell. is doing amazing.

[brookn]

It's been a few weeks since I have posted anything, and I was ahem reminded very kindly by another member that I was behind. Little ambi is growing, even the crazy leaf. It is getting bigger, and the leaves are looking good. You can see a nice green root poking out in the pic (that is still attached to a giant piece of bark I can't get out), there is also a couple of nicks on the leaves that have become apparant as it is growing, that it had when I got it. I will get a new measurement soon, it seems that a little elf has run off with my tape measure

[sandra]

Brook, your plant looks really great, very healthy. I'm almost jealous. OK, I am jealous.

I bought mine on impulse through ebay a while back and not when we were all ordering from Oak Hill....first mistake. I've got the ugliest and smallest one in the group. It came with nicks and a cut in the top leaf but potentially, all cosmetics that (hopefully) will be overcome by good growing.

Keep posting updates. You've encouraged me!

[articuno75]

LOL, In comparison, Brook's is like the bulldog and mine is like the Chihuahua.

[brookn]

Well the Bulldog has grown!! The newest leaf has reached 3.5", and it has started a new leaf-yes! I have a pic to show measurement on it. The leaves are so shiny on this baby, I am going to thank cinnamon extract lol. I just watered little ambi, and told her to keep growing, then I tucked her back in with her friends.

[mayres]

Okay - I'm impressed!
Can you please remind us what kind of conditions you grow this plant in?
As I recall you grow your plants in a greenhouse? Is this correct? Can you tell us what the temperature and humidity range would be?
You are obviously doing something very well that most likely would be of value to some of the rest of us - mine is doing OK, but doesn't hold a candle to your growth (still cool and rainy out here in Oregon - still waiting for the summer warm-up!). I doubt I will ever be able to match your results growing in a home, but will at least hope for reasonable results during the warm summer months.
Great growing........

[brookn]

No greenhouse Mike. This is growing on my desk under a regular fluoresent light from a lamp. The lamp has these octopus-type arms that I just scope right over the plants. Humidity runs 62% + average with the a/c on, and temps are kept at 72 F-75 F. It's in sphag moss and I water when it is very close to completely dry.

[psyc1210]

Very nice!! Looks very good!!

[mayres]

brookn - OK, now I'm REALLY impressed! You are an inspiration with this plant! Thanks for sharing.

[brookn]

Thanks Mike, that's very kind of you. You should see the stuartiana I got from Oak Hill, it's on the desk also, and is growing like a weed. I think they enjoy me hovering over them, and talking to them lol.

[brookn]

Thought I would update the new leaf growing. This plant has really hit it's stride, I also have a new nub (pretty sure it's a root). I am also, after taking about 4000 pics with the new cam, getting the close-up thing down

[patticake]

It looks great, Brookn! Nice growing! I think it likes you!
Mine is doing pretty good, too. I'll update soon.

[brookn]

I hope it likes blooming when it gets big enough lol. I need some blooms hee hee.