Phalaenopsis amboinensis

Phalaenopsis amboinensis is one of my favorite species, and I hope it will be one of yours. Breeding with it properly results in some fantastic hybrids which grow very well in the greenhouse. They carry three to five blooms on 10 to 12 inch spikes that can branch. Flowers are white to cream and lemon-yellow to orange-yellow, and all segments have transverse cinnamon to mahogany-colored barring. Flowers can range from starry to full-shaped. As a parent, it passes on heavy substance to its progeny, resulting in long-lasting flowers, good shape, full petals, and flat flowers in fine hybrids. The various forms and colors of P. amboinensis have made it one of the most frequently used species in creating novelty crosses. It has intensified the colors, spotting and stripes in progeny, and because of its heavy substance, some of its hybrid offspring are smog resistant. The yellow form, when bred with the standard white form, has been instrumental in giving us larger yellows with some markings, and not too many clear yellows. It takes two, three or more generations of selective breeding to get clear yellows, as yellow hybridizing has been a problem for many breeders because of non-germination and small amount of viable seed. One of its most popular hybrids is P. Princess Kaiulani (P. violacea x P. amboinensis). As of 1995, it had contributed to 116 grexes. Flower color will depend upon which color P. amboinensis you use, and whether you use the Malaysia or Borneo form of P. violacea (the latter now called P. bellina). I have seen clones ranging in color from lettuce green to red; orange tones with redder colors come from the Malaysian P. violacea. The orange-yellow form has been used to produce some of the very nice red coloration in modern day hybrids. You will find P. amboinensis to be a good parent, a ready breeder and easy to flower.

This article which has been reprinted here with permission, originally appeared in the Volume 66, Number 4 edition of Orchid Digest, (Oct-Dec 2002), which is a Special Edition that highlights Phalaenopsis, and also features an excellent article on Phal culture by the Tuskes. The Phalaenopsis Special Edition of Orchid Digest can be ordered from Orchid Digest for $22. Highly recommended.

This article, all of its sections and accompanying photographs
are copyright 2002 by Orchid Digest Corporation.

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