Phal 'Purple Martin'

[Xara]

This one grows in a strange way: the end of the stalk keeps developing more and more buds and flowers but the 'old' parts of the stalks are empty. They are getting heavy! I haven't had any phals growing like this before, is it common?

[Cjcorner]

Some phals just love to bloom. Yes this is normal. Some people will cut a flower spike after the first group of flowers are done, to save the plants strength for the next blooming. Some phals will only bloom a few flowers at a time, but will continue blooming for a very long time. I leave spikes alone and let them continue to bloom as they want. When they dry out and turn brown I remove them. It is up to you really...

[Xara]

Oh I'm not likely to stop any orchid wanting to bloom :-D! Thank you :-).

[BigSteve]

Very common behavior for some species & primary hybrids.

[tucker85]

Purple Martin is a cute phal.. One year mine stayed in bloom for eight months and the flower spikes grew to over three feet long. Mine always looks like yours with just a few flowers blooming on the end of the spike at any one time. I grow mine just like yours, with the spikes hanging down. Yours is very nice. Enjoy.

[Mararda]

This 'caught,' my eye straight away! What a beauty! I will add it to my wish list.

[catttan]

Yes Xara this is quite common especially for a Phal violacea hybrid. Phal Purple Martin = Phal(Dtps) Kenneth Schubert x violacea : and Dtps Kenneth Schubert = Doritis pulcherrima x Phal violacea. So you see there's is a very strong violacea influence in this cross. This is a very delightful little phal.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Normal for species phals to bloom like this.

cheers,
BD