At yesterday's judging, we were introduced, as part of our continuing education, to a new group of Phalaenopsis Orchids that are bursting on to the "Orchid Scene".
They are being referred to as Novelty Phalaenopsis!
Here are three examples









Okay, so you may be asking yourself, exactly what is Bill talking about? Remember how I have often said that judging standards with regard to Orchids are always changing, evolving? Well we were introduced yesterday to Novelty Phalaenopsis. What are they? How do we properly evaluate them? How do we judge them?

Well let me first attempt to define them for all of you. Well they are not Standard Phalaenopsis like the big leaved, branched inflorescence beauties that we are familiar with. Names like Phal. Baldans Kaleidoscope or Phal. Taisuco. Those plants have large leaves, often reaching 12-15" in length, 4-5" in width, tall often branches inflorescences carrying 2 dozen 4" flowers. Novelties are not like those "standards" at all!!
And Novelty Phalaenopsis are NOT Mini Phalaenopsis. Such classics as Phal. Mini Mark or Phal. Sogo Vixen. Those hybrids have stacked leaves arising from miniature or very small plants. Their inflorescences are often branched and the flowers are 1" - 1 1/2" wide. I am not talking about those. They just seem like close cousins to the big, standard Phalaenopsis.

Novelty Phalaenopsis are very different! Well Bill, just how different are they? Please explain.
Well these Novelty Phalaenopsis bloom later in the year at a time when the Orchid World is pretty darn slow without too much going on! Novelty Phalaenopsis typically bloom from May through September. Ah, now that's different. They help to fill those summer doldrums kind of.
The flowers of Novelties are extremely colorful ranging from 2 to 2 1/3" wide, often rounded and fuller. But according to parentage, a great many can be somewhat starry in shape.
They bloom and rebloom from the same inflorescences often over several years. They typically possess only 1-3 flowers but with selected parents, we are now seeing 3-6 flowers more and more!
The leaves are stacked one on top of another, often are very glossy reminiscent of Phal. violacea or Phal. bellina.
AND NOW FOR THE BEST QUALITY PERHAPS!!!!!! 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
They are very fragrant. Every body likes fragrant orchids!!!

Of those three flowers that I posted above, only the bottom one is mine and the name is not important at the moment but it smells just like Fruit Loops. Silly rabbit, Trix are for Kids!!! I have been trying to define what I am smelling every time I get near that flower and a fellow judge said yesterday, they smell like fruit loops!! And that's it! That is just what they smell like. It could be further described as very "floral", a very sweet kind of intoxicating fragrance and quite powerful.

As a final note, I have about 8-9 of these hybrids just growing like gangbusters under my lights and I look forward to sharing additional images as we move this thread along.
That you so much for your kind attention and continued support!

This looks and sounds wonderful! To me the scent is one big incentive to look for some!!
And the blooming time is great too!

Thanks Bill!!

Welcome.

Part 2

What species form the building blocks of Novelty Phalaenopsis? I have to tell you that I really learned so much yesterday. I just have to pass this information on.

Here they are in no particular order:
bellina
violacea
amboinensis
venosa
lueddemanniana
tetraspis
micholitzii
gigantea
Those above are the main players. There are maybe 5 or 6 others. Each bring a little something different to the table.

Now comes culture. Do these have any specialized cultural requirements when compared to the mini's or the standards? The answer is no, not really. Since they are summer bloomers, they perhaps like it a bit warmer and wetter. They do not need a couple of weeks of cooler nights in order to set spikes.
Their primary bloom season is summer but since they hold bloom spikes for multiple seasons, they can elongate and produce new buds at any time. New spikes however seem to form in mid to late spring.
They also have a reputation as being slower growers but more frequent flowering is a nice trade off.
I am going to continue using seedling grade media with an internal layer of sphagnum moss.

I like the part two!

I wonder if Silva Orchids sells them, have to check them out!

I just secured a plant from Bredren Orchids on e-bay. I kept quiet about it in order to keep you guys from bidding me up!!! It is the C-1 form of Phalaenopsis tetraspis. Tetraspis has starry flowers, some are pure white, some have amethyst bars randomly over the flowers. C-1 was mentioned often in yesterdays presentation. You can google tetraspis and images will appear. It is also in our data base here. Anyway, it has random red flower parts. The flower might be white with a red dorsal, or maybe white with red lateral sepals. It is really an interesting little species.
My plant has 4 spikes that are starting to bud up. So look forward to seeing those images. And once I get it and repot it, maybe it will produce another spike later this spring?
All of these hybrids and species produce flowers that last pretty darn well which is another good point in their favor.

Bill, this sounds wonderful! Can't wait to see your pictures!

Ohh, looking into our data base, that was my Orchid show c 1 picture !🙂

oops, I did not realize that. So do you remember the plant?

Vaguely!

I have an update that I am pleased to report. These compact, novelty Phalaenopsis are settling quite nicely. I am seeing new leaves popping all over the place! New roots are appearing as well.
All of these Phalaes. are repotted using my "Oreo" method. Media, sphagnum moss and media. My watering schedule is once every 5 days, lights are on for 12 hours and plants are 8-10" below the tubes.
These plants are summer bloomers primarily but can flower at any time. My collection is now at 16 plants and holding. Since shows are over until late next fall, my opportunities for acquisition are limited. E-Bay prices have climbed through the roof since the weather broke.
I am seeing new spikes and new buds beginning to form on a few older spikes so images will be coming at some point.

Bill, that sounds great!!

Well here is an example of pricing, availability on e-bay. I have wanted a Phalaenopsis bellina for awhile now. There was one being offered for $99.00 or "best offer"! I offered $70 because it was reasonable I felt and for a plant that looked pretty good. The posting still had twenty something days to run so maybe the seller is holding out?
Not sure.
My offer was rejected in a second!! Yes, a second. I figured, I made a fair offer. The very next morning, another clone from another vendor pops up. And get this, it is a bellina sib cross of 'Jim Krull' FCC/AOS x bellina "Crystelle" HCC/AOS with a buy now option of $35!!! I was all over that price!! The plant is perhaps 25-33% smaller but it is up to me to grow it either way. BUT I saved $64!!!! I like that.
Now that first seller may get their $99 but, I got one for roughly 2/3 the price!! We must be so careful though.

Bill,
Is there any specific nomenclature that these compact, novelty Phalaenopsis have we should look for when shopping?

I have bought very few Orchids online over the years, usually buying at Shows or Open Houses. You know what you are doing! I made some exceptions years ago, like buying from Andy and Santa Barbara Orchids, but I have no experience with e-bay.
Nice find!

If you don't care about names you can find them at grocery stores, too. Mituo Prince looks very close to one I got at Trader Joe's a couple of years ago for $11.99

Ted, because they are all Phalaenopsis, there are not many clues to be found there. BUT there are hints vegetative wise. Almost round, shiny leaves, very glossy looking. Very short inflorescences that kind of come from the plant horizontally like the leaves. Plants grow low to the pot, not as tall and upright like a standard Phal.








These above images hopefully show what I am talking about to some small degree. I have a hair cut appointment so I'll include more soon.
Flowers long lasting, 2 or 3 on a spike, spikes stay green for years, they will elongate and produce more buds, intensely colored flowers, generally 2" wide +/-! Spikes do not get tall needing a vertical stake. Mature leaves likely 8" long maximum, even a bit less. Leaves as round almost as they are long. Bloom season primarily late May through early September, NOT January through April like a mini Phal. Or a standard Phal.!!!

Edited to add: look at the inflorescence on the bottom example, short, prostrate, many flowered, 'fleshy' looking. The flowers form close to the pot on short spikes, not on tall spikes that reach 15" or more in length.

Great description, Bill!
So far Trader Joe's or my local Metropolitan Plant Exchange nursery showed none. I need to check out Dearborn in Holmdel!!

I am including a few images of my plants. Hopefully they show what I am describing.
Names to look for: Species such as violacea, bellina, amboinensis, venosa, lueddemanniana and tetraspis.
Hybrid names that include "Sogo", "Yaphon ", Dragon Tree Hill, or combinations like Ambo Gold or Sogo's Butterfly.

These sound very attractive to me, especially the fragrance part. And "warmer and wetter" sounds like it might bode better for tolerating the Florida climate, too.

Going to keep my eyes open for some of those to try! Thanks, Bill!

Welcome Elaine!