I was hoping the 'chids would be in full bloom by the very end of June to create a post, but there was a lot of activity in regards to buds and spikes forming, just not as many flowers. I'm very happy with how the solarium is working out, and the 'chids are growing a lot better from when they were growing under T5s.
Phal Corning's Violet 'Redfearn' (TH19 corningiana x violacea)- this may be my new favorite. Love the dark red markings (from corningiana) and magenta blush (from violacea). The lip has a light dusting of trichomes, from corningiana. The fragrance is amazing on this, unfortunately only for a few hours between 9am-12:30pm. It smells like candy. This has two more buds on the way :)
Phal Double Eagle 'Parliament' (corningiana 'Teja's Red' x sumatrana 'Teja's Treasure')- This is also a new favorite. I got this from Krull-Smith in March. The plant came with a spike which took it's time to grow, after moving into the solarium a new spike quickly developed with two more buds. The fragrance on this is also intoxicating, but only for a few hours in the morning. It has a sweet rose-like fragrance. I have already used this pollen on Corning's Violet to work on my 'Primary x Primary' breeding program, but more on that later :)
Another shot of the other spike from when I have it hanging. The flowers are actually quite large on this.
Phalaenopsis Germanine Vincent 'SugarPlum' (violacea v indigo x speciosa 'C#1')- the color is quite difficult to capture. But this is very close. Blooming on two spikes currently. I am curious to see what a selfing of this would create, but I also want to allow this plant to focus it's energy on growing bigger, as I believe that a mature plant would put on quite the fragrant display. This is probably the strongest fragrance in the solarium currently, you can smell it when you walk in. I used pollen from this to set on Phal Double Eagle 'Parliament'. I ordered this plant last summer from Big Leaf Orchids.
Bloom from May- much larger and with rounder form.
Phal sumatrana ('Many Flowers' x 'Dark Brown')- ironically this flower has none of the traits that the parents were named for, haha, but I really am enjoying this first bloom. This was also purchased from Krull-Smith. From the short period of time this has been with me, it seems to be a vigorous plant.
Phal tetraspis fma red x self- I'm not exactly sure what to call this phal, there is quite the debate regarding the existence of Phal speciosa, which has been described as having these markings. Phal tetraspis is a closely related sister species, but most have pure white flowers, or random stripes, not blotches. For now the label will stay as is. I would love to cross this with Phal speciosa 'C#1' (which is currently working on buds) for more white flowers with random blotches. Fragrance is much more pleasant than 'C#1', but very similar.
