Phal Mahinhin Won’t bloom

[Mroatrek]

I bought this primary hybrid 4 years ago in bloom at an East Coast orchid club auction. I have not succeeded in blooming it. 4bloom stalks but all I get are keikis, no buds. I have tried various light and media adjustments. Currently mounted with sphagnum moss inside a greenhouse in Southern California. Anyone have this? Any other ideas to get it to bloom?

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!

How many of hours of light does it get? During the summer months the natural day length is likely sufficient, but in fall and winter, consider adding some supplemental light to give it 12 hours a day.

What is the temperature range? Neither parent is particularly fussy as long as temperatures are in the general Phalaenopsis range. Maybe even a bit of cooling at night (down to 60 deg F or so might help days being warmer of course) I haven't grown the hybrid but have done fine with both parents in a not-very-well-regulated greenhouse so I doubt that temperature is an issue. (My GH goes down to about 60-65 F on winter nights, days are whatever Mother Nature provides with sunshine+ "greenhouse effect", southern California)

I jump on light duration (not intensity) as a huge factor after my experience of growing Phals in the spare bedroom, with good morning light but not so good the rest of the day - cheap shoplights for 12 hours a day was the magic formula. I don't grow that many Phals any more, they live out in the GH and seem to bloom with no particular intervention,just natural light, the only ones that don't do so well for me are the ones that like really warm like P. bellina and P. violacea. So I'm grasping at straws.

[estación seca]

Excess fertilizer will also cause blooming problems in Phals. Have a look at a thread here with advice from a much-awarded Phal. grower. From the left yellow menu select Forums then Phalaenopsis - Hybrids. At the top is a thread with information from Eric Goo of Phoenix Orchids.

[Ray]

Both of the parents of that cross are keiki producers, it out to bloom pretty freely, too.

Over application of nitrogen was my first thought, as well.

Tell us more about your overall culture.

[Mroatrek]

In the last year, I had this hybrid with the catts (my main collection), got sunburned and promptly moved farther from light source. It has 4 long (2 feet) bloom stalks and a younger pot (keiki of the mother plant) is starting 2 bloom stalks now about 6 inches long. I have removed from mount and potted in clear plastic with spag moss and moved to laundry room with my other plals (all bloom annually). Humidity 30-50. Temp 60-80. Fans on. I will now try feeding full strength 20-20-20. We will see

[Roberta]

I would suggest half-strength for the fertilizer. As Ray pointed out, excess fertilizer (especially nitrogen) can inhibit blooming. Phals are low-light plants, but do need sufficient light duration - gentle light 12 hours a day is likely beneficial., More intense light won't help and as you found out the hard way, can burn the plant.

[Mroatrek]

Here's a photo of the keiki with 2 new bloom spikes

Nevermind. I can't figure out how to post photos on this board. Sigh.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

No image.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by Mroatrek

Here's a photo of the keiki with 2 new bloom spikes

Nevermind. I can't figure out how to post photos on this board. Sigh.

Use an external photo storage/sharing site such as postimages, flirck, etc.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Mroatrek

Here's a photo of the keiki with 2 new bloom spikes

Nevermind. I can't figure out how to post photos on this board. Sigh.

Try this. Upload your photo to Postimages.org and look for the "hotlink for forums" tab. Click the tab to copy, come back here, paste the link in your message and post. Your image will appear in your message.