Phal gigantea, or patience, huh, what is it good for

[orcoholic]

I got this as a seedling about 8 years ago. After nurturing it, potting it, slaving over it, keeping a special eye on it, it finally decided to bloom. Two freaking flowers. Big whoop. Where's the justice?

It's growing in a slatted basket filled with NZSM. The basket is mounted on a big cork piece so the roots that come out of the basket have something to attach to.

The leaves face outwards so no water stays in the crown. Giganteas are very susceptible to crown rot.

They are very tough to bloom in the Northeast US, but two flowers????? Oh well, maybe next year.

[cstraub]

LOL Great thread title

[catttan]

Congrats, michael k. I hear Phal gigantea is really difficult to grow and to nurture it from seedling to blooming(albeit only 2 flowers) really takes some doing! Hoping to see you post pix showing it with a 2ft spike some day!

[Cjcorner]

Most of us would have killed it by now...only two flowers?? I'd be freakin' out that i'd been able to keep it alive that long. lol Great job!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

What is it that is said..."Good things come to those who wait"... Just wait, you will be rewarded for your care with many more blooms in the future. That is my wish for you.

Cheers,
BD

[smwboxer]

Hey two is better than none! Mine is just pushing out new roots a leaf. Fingers crossed for blooms next summer.

[orchidlady]

They are beautiful flowers though, and as others have said-two is better than zero. Gigantea has a reputation for being difficult. I don't have this one due to the size of the plant, but it is beautiful.

Susan

[Joyday]

I love your gigantea,even with 2 blooms!wish I had one! :-)

[Alplily NH]

Well, I'M impressed... as has been said before, these are tricky plants, especially in the Northeast! Congratulations!

[smwboxer]

The grower that sold me mine told me the trick to growing and blooming these guys is to give them a lot of light somewhere between oncidium and catt. levels. Mine only has about a 12" leaf span and had already bloomed once. It's leaves are very light green.