Lately I have been trying to research 'Novelty Phalaenopsis'. Right up front that might be a bit of a misnomer. Maybe Phalaenopsis violacea or Phalaenopsis bellina hybrids might be a little more accurate.
These are very waxy, broad leafed plants often producing only 2-4 flowers per inflorescence. Leaves are very glossy to a large extent and closely spaced on the central stem. As a result, you get plants that can bloom at any time. Substance of those flowers is very heavy, waxy, and the blossoms are fragrant. Some are concolor reds, maroons, yellows and some have bars or other markings.
Unfortunately at the moment, I do not have a single Phalaenopsis in my collection! Imagine that? But it's true. With Winter here, I am browsing places like e-bay and other Phalaenopsis vendors on line. However I will not have something shipped where it could be 58 degrees today in Michigan and minus 5 degrees 36 hours later. Shipping can be dangerous!!
But Winter is the time for research. Research into strong parents, research into culture, research into dominant breeding lines. Time to play Boy Scout and be prepared.
If you can recall visiting any vendors place of business or at a sales table at a show, you recognize these plants in an instant, very broad, shiny leaves and these intensely colored 2" flowers.
So once my shows start up again in late January, I can start my quest. I figure that if my Bulbophyllums and smaller growing Phragmipediums are doing very well under lights, I think that these Phalaenopsis will do well. Both violacea and bellina grow better with a little more light that your average Phalaenopsis. I promise more news to follow. These are not "mini-Phalaenopsis" which are very popular. Maybe compact Phalaenopsis is a better term.

I will of course update everyone as often as I find good, useful information.
Can the Sultan of Slippers or the Prince of Paphs. Morph into the Potentate of Phalaenopsis???

I recall that Norman Fang had some nice ones as does Phillip Hamilton

I just had an offer today that I could not refuse! A Phalaenopsis vendor on e-bay offered me a deal on a novelty Phalaenopsis. He was letting me have a plant that he had listed for $125, for $55. Not bad on the surface.
It is Phalaenopsis Yins Kaiulani (Phalaenopsis Sogo Kaiulani x Phalaenopsis Brother Ambo Passion. My research shows both of these are great parents when it comes to breeding.
The flowers are full and round and of heavy substance. They are about 2" across and fragrant.
The color is dark maroon, the same color as Trichoglotis brachyata. The sepals and petals come to a ciliated point. Those hair-like points are chartreuse. The lip is slender, tri-colored and vertical. It is pink, yellow and cherry red. These in my opinion are gorgeous little flowers.
I am curious to see if it blooms like the on line images because I would like to get it to judging.

The Potentate of Phalaenopsis!

Good one Bill! Looks like you are happily on the way! Phals will surely do well for you!

I had a mini phal sogo grape but it did not survive one of the moves. Krull Smith has a number of the novelty phals, I picked up a P amboinensis (?) flava x bellina alba there last year and it has done well and bloomed for months. The flowers were very waxy. I will get more varieties when I head down that way in February. As I recall the price was very reasonable for a plant in a 4" pot, maybe $15.

Bill; You might consider adding a popular mini phal: "Phalaenopsis Sogo Vivien" w/variegated leaves to your collection. The leaves are so pretty even when out of bloom + it's relatively slow growing.

I am familiar with that one. Also Sogo Grape is another goodie. But I find myself looking at newer, more current hybrids, products of recent breeding, in order to get awards from the AOS.

Hybrids like Sogo Vivian are wonderful but it has its awards. Newer hybrids afford me a better award opportunity.
But if I ever came across one at a reasonable price, I would consider it.

I like reds, intense yellows and oranges.

We really must carry on the alliterative theme for your nicknames.

How about the Pharoah of Phals ?

Can't wait to see what you find, and how you grow them, Bill.

Excuse me.

From the Pharoah of Phalaenopsis, here is the first arrival and it came in flower. It was 40 degrees when it came about 4:30. I just put it under lights to let it warm up.


This is Phalaenopsis Yin's Kaiulani Passion. That is a hybrid of Phalaenopsis Sogo Kaiulani x Phalaenopsis Brother Ambo Passion. That's a mouthful for sure.


It arrived in an opaque plastic pot with a single bud on a single spike. Flower measures about 5.3 cm. Wide and it is almost as tall. The fragrance is kind of grape like, like grape soda pop!! It is odiferous as in powerful.



Doesn't that color remind you of brachyata?? Flowers have full, round segments and it is almost perfectly flat.
The dorsal is sitting off a bit to the right which is possibly the result of shipping. If I can get it to rebloom with two or three flowers open, I'll take it to judging.

Yes, very much like Trichoglottis brachiata! It looks very nice!

Oh I just love these hybridizers. Somebody goes into Phalaenopsis breeding and they create a Tricoglottis brachiata, a species? Seems odd, can we just grow a brachiata? Or does that take all the fun out of it?


I had a Dendrobium hybrid, I think it was Den. Formidable. I can't think of the big white Dendrobium species, maybe infundibulare? Anyways, a hybridizer makes a Dendrobium hybrid that looks like a large white Cattleya. Amazing.

I'll be following along your research findings Bill. A primary variable for me in choosing an orchid is its fragrance; so far the newer fragrant phal. hybrids I've tried under lights have done well. They have the added bonus of beautiful distinctively shiny flat leaves. If only a phal. schilleriana hybrid was out there with the gorgeous leaves and a flower with better substance !