We all have a soft spot for a particular orchid, and especially for Phals, in full honesty probably everyone started with a Phal. They are so easy to grow, easy to rescue and give so much back when you care properly for them.
It's like this with the Phal. Baldan's Kaleidoscope, which belongs to the extraordinary type of kaleidoscope orchids which show a particular veining on the petals, which in most of the cases will be contrasting although sometimes it can be in a tonal variance, which will be just a tone or two lighter or darker.
The Baldan's Kaleidoscope was registered by Barbara Baldan in South Florida in 1990 by crossing Phalaenopsis Hausermann's Candy and Phalaenopsis Daryl Lockhart. This cross was then successfully used as a pollen parent for many other awarded orchids.
Many of them are very similar in their outlook and may be easily confused.
On a important note although everyone say this type of Phalaenopsis is not fragrant but I must say it's not true. This is something I raised on the Orchid Forum for the Europe in a Orchid Fragrance topic as my Phal has a fragrance which is quite sweet and heavy. This may not happen all of the time or only in a true hybrid or depending on the actual environment and care, but it does have a fragrance in the evening. Which may be a nice surprise to expect.
Best planted in a snug, plastic and transparent pot - this is important - Phalaenopsis should be never, never ever in a black or non transparent pots because their roots use the sunshine to photosynthesise and create energy. Best medium is coarse bark, with a eventual dash of charcoal bits and clay balls like hydroton to aerate the mix. This mix should keep moisture, but also allow the roots to grow freely in every direction and won't suffocate them. Best re-potted after around two years or when you see the roots are clumping in the pot.
Saying this, it's not a space saver, although it has a beautiful foliage, and the leaves are dark and fleshy they are also very big and quite long for a Phal and will take a lot of space around. They do have a tendency to grow in a fan shape so you can't really squeeze it into one location as suddenly you may end up with a leaf that grows straight into the wall.
Phals shouldn't be watered more than once a week, as opposite to Oncidium Alliance orchids they don't require constant moisture and it's good to leave the medium to dry out. The best sign that the orchid needs watering are silvery roots, when they are green it means it's not the time.
Although spraying the upper layer of the medium and the laves is perfectly fine during the week if you have a warm room and the moisture has the time to evaporate without causing root to the plant. It's ok to fertilize weekly, with the occasional week with just pure water to wash the building up of salts from the mixture. Use a growth fertilizer when the orchid is resting and a bloom booster when the spikes show. Saying that this Phal tends to be a prolific bloomer and it can hold her flowers for many months, and I won't be joking if I say sometimes up to 8 - 9 months. This Is why it's best after some time just to cut of the spike or if you see the orchid is sending another one after a very long blooming, just to cut it of because your plant with spend itself and end up in a very poor condition, much more vulnerable to viruses and root.
The best light would be morning and evening, I have a North western exposure (something on a angle) and the plants have plenty of indirect light in the morning and then some direct in the afternoon after 4 pm and the Phals grow great and don't need shading from burning. However my conditions will not be perfect for everyone and make sure you will protect your orchid from direct sunlight especially in the hottest part of the day to avoid scorching of the leaves.
Baldan's Kalaidescope is easily accessible especially in big shops like Morrison or Tesco, though I have never saw it on-line in Europe. Only the miniature crosses which are bit similar but are not exactly the same. But during the Christmas Holiday period they show up, so have a look.
It's like this with the Phal. Baldan's Kaleidoscope, which belongs to the extraordinary type of kaleidoscope orchids which show a particular veining on the petals, which in most of the cases will be contrasting although sometimes it can be in a tonal variance, which will be just a tone or two lighter or darker.
The Baldan's Kaleidoscope was registered by Barbara Baldan in South Florida in 1990 by crossing Phalaenopsis Hausermann's Candy and Phalaenopsis Daryl Lockhart. This cross was then successfully used as a pollen parent for many other awarded orchids.
Many of them are very similar in their outlook and may be easily confused.
On a important note although everyone say this type of Phalaenopsis is not fragrant but I must say it's not true. This is something I raised on the Orchid Forum for the Europe in a Orchid Fragrance topic as my Phal has a fragrance which is quite sweet and heavy. This may not happen all of the time or only in a true hybrid or depending on the actual environment and care, but it does have a fragrance in the evening. Which may be a nice surprise to expect.
Best planted in a snug, plastic and transparent pot - this is important - Phalaenopsis should be never, never ever in a black or non transparent pots because their roots use the sunshine to photosynthesise and create energy. Best medium is coarse bark, with a eventual dash of charcoal bits and clay balls like hydroton to aerate the mix. This mix should keep moisture, but also allow the roots to grow freely in every direction and won't suffocate them. Best re-potted after around two years or when you see the roots are clumping in the pot.
Saying this, it's not a space saver, although it has a beautiful foliage, and the leaves are dark and fleshy they are also very big and quite long for a Phal and will take a lot of space around. They do have a tendency to grow in a fan shape so you can't really squeeze it into one location as suddenly you may end up with a leaf that grows straight into the wall.
Phals shouldn't be watered more than once a week, as opposite to Oncidium Alliance orchids they don't require constant moisture and it's good to leave the medium to dry out. The best sign that the orchid needs watering are silvery roots, when they are green it means it's not the time.
Although spraying the upper layer of the medium and the laves is perfectly fine during the week if you have a warm room and the moisture has the time to evaporate without causing root to the plant. It's ok to fertilize weekly, with the occasional week with just pure water to wash the building up of salts from the mixture. Use a growth fertilizer when the orchid is resting and a bloom booster when the spikes show. Saying that this Phal tends to be a prolific bloomer and it can hold her flowers for many months, and I won't be joking if I say sometimes up to 8 - 9 months. This Is why it's best after some time just to cut of the spike or if you see the orchid is sending another one after a very long blooming, just to cut it of because your plant with spend itself and end up in a very poor condition, much more vulnerable to viruses and root.
The best light would be morning and evening, I have a North western exposure (something on a angle) and the plants have plenty of indirect light in the morning and then some direct in the afternoon after 4 pm and the Phals grow great and don't need shading from burning. However my conditions will not be perfect for everyone and make sure you will protect your orchid from direct sunlight especially in the hottest part of the day to avoid scorching of the leaves.
Baldan's Kalaidescope is easily accessible especially in big shops like Morrison or Tesco, though I have never saw it on-line in Europe. Only the miniature crosses which are bit similar but are not exactly the same. But during the Christmas Holiday period they show up, so have a look.
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Some pictures presented in this article may not belong to me and are a property of their respectable owners.
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