I have new images to show everybody, a couple of first time bloomers.
This is Paphiopedilum Hawaiian Spring. It is a hybrid of Paph. Hawaiian Illusion X Paph. Spring Fever.
There are a couple of neat points to make about each of these clones. I am taking a bit of a leap of faith here by assuming they are from the same seedling batch. I acquired them together. Yet look at the difference in terms of both flower size and plant size.
For all of our newcomers, as we get back into the 'swing of things', orchid shows, vendor sales, we should look at flowering clones with an 'educated eye'! Now what in the world is Bill talking about??
First look at the similarities in clones, mottled foliage, flowers of green, rose and white. But I need you to look closer and I'll be your guide. Look at how much larger the guy on the left is!! Broader leaves, longer leaves and a HUGE flower that has a second bud!!! The one on the right does not. Is this normal? Random genetics? Or possibly polyploidy??? Interesting.
First of all, I love watermelon Paphs. In green, rose and white.
This one is not quite fully open but it measures 11.6 cm. X 8.8 cm. And that is way above average. For me I think nine and a half to ten and a half centimeters is average. This is bigger!! Plus the petals of this monster are 2.8 cm. Wide by 7.1 cm. long. Those are also at least a centimeter longer and half a centimeter wider or fuller.
I love the white dorsal blushed bright green with longitudinal stripes. The full petals are blushed rose and very rich, bright green at the point of attachment! And look at that pouch, it too is very big!!! But with bigger petals and bigger dorsal, it stands to reason that the pouch needs to be bigger too.
The balance of the flower is wonderful! With a much smaller pouch, say by 33%, the flower would appear to be unbalanced!
Now this is my last point! Class, pay attention!!
Look at the markings on the leaves. You want to look at this even when there are no flowers. It is still attractive. Proper lighting gives you clear definition in those markings. Too much light, the whole leaf goes kind of greenish yellow and the markings fade. Too low light means leaves get to be a darker green hiding the markings within the overall darkness. So if some one asks you, if your orchids speak to you? YES they do!! But you have to listen 👂!!!
And you should know that I consider Phals as one of the hardest Orchids for me to keep!! I don't do well with them in the long run at all!
to our little slice of orchid heaven here. Your Phal is great with those dramatic stripes and like Ursula I find them impossible to keep alive so , great growing there! You will find lots of orchid nurseries not too far from you. in fact theres a good show coming up in 3 weeks in Bartow. There will be many of our central Florida growers there and displays ( hopefully my club , Tampa Orchid Club, will have its third consecutive blue ribbon win 
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We are still in the midst of summer, temperature @ 89 F, humidity at 90%, and a heat index of near 100 F. I've been tending to the pond for the last half hour and am soaking wet with perspiration.
