Joanna: I'm not a Phal grower, but I've seen similar problems with species
in other genera. I'm not sure that what you've read so far warrants giving
up on the species itself, but if you decide to, look for hybrids with a
similar parent -- unless you're a species purist.

For example, Onc. [Psychopsis?] papilio is "difficult" here (we're too
hot), but some of its offspring, that look much the same when in flower, do
quite well. We don't have any trouble with O. Kalihi or O. Butterfly, and
most people couldn't tell either from straight O. papilio without the label.

So perhaps it would help to ask your favorite Phal supplier for a hybrid
that closely resembles P. schilleriana. Kenni



"J Fortuna" wrote in message
news:tk6kf.3642$H84.1706@trnddc04...
Ah, well if it can't stand temps in the upper 50s, no wonder my schilli is
not doing well. It was near a window in the old apartment, and I am sure
it
got quite a bit cooler there -- I know that in the new condo, one of the
two
growing areas got down to the low 50s a few nights. All of my other Phals
seem much more hardy, and thus able to withstand low 50s. I am beginning
to
think that if this schilleriana does not make it -- either as this plant
or
as a keiki -- I will try to avoid buying another shilleriana, since they
are
such wimps. ;-) It's a shame though, since their flowers and leaves are
gorgeous.

By the way, I did place an order for the keiki paste, so we shall see what
comes out of that.

Joanna

"OrchidKitty" wrote in message
oups.com...
Well, I've killed schillerianas at what I'm guessing was the upper 50s,
so I try to keep their nightly low at 64 degrees.

BTW, even a small room can have cold spots and hot spots. For example,
my growing area is above an attached garage, so the temperature at
floor level is considerably cooler than five feet above it, especially
when the temperatures are sub zero. Similarly, the side of the room
with the cast-iron steam radiator (which belches steam so I'll never
get it fixed) is warmer than the other side. Windows can be a source of
cold drafts too. If your plant is in front of a window, move it back
from the glass at night, or install blinds as a temperature barrier and
lower them at night. Venetian blinds have worked fine for me.

One of the best inexpensive investments you can make is to buy several
inexpensive thermometers and set them around your growing area. You
might be surprised at the different readings you'll get. A humidity
gauge is a good investment too.

Kenni Judd wrote:
snip
look for hybrids with a
similar parent -- unless you're a species purist.

Kenni,
Good advice, thanks! I will look into phal schilleriana hybrids. I am
definitely not a species purist -- some of my favorite Phals are NoID
hybrids, and if anything I am more suspicious of phal species than of
hybrids most of the time because I know that many species can be more
problematic. The main exception to this is phal equestris, which is my
favorite phal species and causes me no touble at all.
Joanna