Hybridizing with Phalaenopsis Species
by Bill Livingston
Phalaenopsis mariae
|
The white to cream-colored flowers of this showy species have bold blotches of maroon to brownish red, which blend together to give an appearance of barring, while the lip is a pale mauve or purple with yellow calli on lateral lobes. The inflorescence is generally branched and carries a lot of small flowers about 1 to 1.5 inches in width. The inflorescence is more often pendulous than erect. This plant is rather easy to grow in the greenhouse, but I find it likes less light than other species. Flowers are slightly fragrant. Phalaenopsis mariae passes red coloration on to some of its hybrids, but the red often fades within a short time after the flowers open.
|
|
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.
Note: This site uses Javascript Navigation Controls;
if you have Javascript disabled on your Browser,
you will need to use the Site Map to navigate this site.
