Continued efforts in 2014

Happy 2014, fellow phal-o-philiacs! It has been a rather quiet winter season in the grow space in terms of flowers but a few spikes are rapidly expanding and most phals are undergoing good vegetative growth. This Phal. gigantea x LD's Bear King plant in particular is a great example of the hybrid vigour you'd expect from a species crossed to another vigorous complex hybrid, and the shape and color of the leaves are very attractive on its own.

The Chienlung Luedgiana primary hybrid is STILL flowering, and producing some welcome color and sweet grapey scents in the grow area. On the other hand, two species (Phal. corningiana and Phal. modesta) have made new spikes and I should hope for some bud formation soon.

The winter in Davis has been extremely dry and this is the third straight year of drought conditions. Some rain would be nice, so the humidifier can rest, but reprieve seems unlikely so far.