Large-flowered vs. small-flowered Phalaenopsis: which is easier to grow, and how do you tell them apart?

There are many varieties of Phalaenopsis, which can be divided into two categories by flower size: large-flowered and small-flowered. So which should you choose, large-flowered or small-flowered Phalaenopsis? Which is easier to keep alive? And how exactly do you tell these two types apart?

In fact, whether large-flowered or small-flowered Phalaenopsis is easy to grow mainly depends on their "personality" and your own plant-care habits. Large-flowered Phalaenopsis, as the name suggests, has big blooms and thick petals, and when it flowers it looks especially imposing, with a super strong presence in the home! Large-flowered Phalaenopsis plants are also generally more robust, with thick stems and broad leaves, giving them relatively stronger resistance. As long as you provide suitable light, water and temperature, it rarely gets sick, making it fairly worry-free to grow. However, large-flowered Phalaenopsis has high nutrient demands, so remember to fertilize it before the flowering period, otherwise it may produce fewer and smaller flowers.

As for small-flowered Phalaenopsis, the flowers are small, delicate and especially cute! Small-flowered Phalaenopsis also generally produces plenty of blooms, covering the branches densely, with ornamental value no less than large-flowered varieties. Its advantage lies in its strong adaptability to the environment: even if you occasionally forget to water or fertilize, it can still hold on and survive. Small-flowered Phalaenopsis has relatively fine, weak roots and is quite sensitive to water, so you should not water too frequently, otherwise the roots rot easily; but as long as you get the watering frequency right, even beginners can handle it easily.

How do you distinguish large-flowered from small-flowered Phalaenopsis? The simplest and most direct way is to look at flower size, which is also the most intuitive difference. The flower diameter of large-flowered Phalaenopsis is generally 10 - 15 cm, or even larger, as big as a palm; the flower diameter of small-flowered Phalaenopsis is mostly 5 - 8 cm, noticeably a size smaller than large-flowered ones. Besides the flowers, you can also observe the leaves. The leaves of large-flowered Phalaenopsis are broad and long, reaching 20 - 30 cm in length and around 8 - 10 cm in width, feeling thick and substantial; the leaves of small-flowered Phalaenopsis are relatively narrower and shorter, 15 - 20 cm long and 5 - 7 cm wide, with a slightly thinner texture as well.

In addition, you can get a rough idea from the price. Because large-flowered Phalaenopsis is harder to cultivate and has a long growth cycle, at the same quality it is usually a bit more expensive than small-flowered Phalaenopsis. But this is not absolute; during merchant promotions or with variety differences, prices can also change.

Large-flowered and small-flowered Phalaenopsis each have their pros and cons, and there is no absolute answer as to which is easier to grow. If you like a bold, gorgeous style and are willing to put in a bit more effort, large-flowered Phalaenopsis suits you better; if you prefer a delicate, cute feel and want more worry-free plant care, small-flowered Phalaenopsis is a good choice. Next time you go to the flower market to pick Phalaenopsis, you can use these methods to tell large-flowered from small-flowered and choose the pot that suits you best!