Q&A – Do mini orchids exist? Will mini Phalaenopsis grow large?
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Today we will discuss about mini orchids and mini Phalaenopsis orchids in particular. I have been asked many times if mini orchids will grow large, so today we will debate a bit on this subject.
In general, mini Phalaenopsis orchids will not grow as large as a medium sized or large sized orchid. For the main part they will remain tiny, as they have been genetically modified to look this way. However, there have been a few reports of Phalaenopsis hybrids that can bloom at a small size, but then grow into a larger plant. There is no way to know which will stay small and which won’t, so here are a few mini Phalaenopsis that I know will remain rather small: Phalaenopsis Jiaho’s Pink Girl, Sogo Gotris, Sogo Vivien, and other hybrids. Also species like Phalaenopsis lobbii, parishii and pulcherima are known to stay small, so hybrids of these orchids might stay small too.
In the end there is no real way to figure out unless you know the species of variety you are purchasing. Some sources suggest that they are made small by the use of a chemical, which in time wears away. I really don’t know, but I can tell you that my mini Phalaenopsis remained small, but there are other hybrids which are just very early bloomers.
Other very interesting mini orchids are: Oncidium Twinkle, Neofinetia falcata, Leptotes bicolor, but there are many many others worth having. Maybe in time I will create of these true mini species if you’d like that.
