Two phalaenopsis different outcome

[Irisha99]

Hi guys,
I had these two phals for a few years already but I really didn’t know what I was doing until 1.5 years ago. I am happy to say that one of them is going to bloom soon (last time it bloomed was in 2016) but the other one is looking so healthy, yet isn’t blooming for me (don’t remember when it bloomed last time, probably when I bought it years ago). I am providing the same care to both so I am confused about why it’s not blooming? Thanks

[aliceinwl]

It could just be the genetic make up of the plant. My Phals don’t all bloom in sync.

[dbarron]

And did you give it a cool period to initiate budding?

[Irisha99]

Originally Posted by dbarron

And did you give it a cool period to initiate budding?

Yes, it’s between 63-68F in the room. I actually have two phals in bud but the other 4 are not

[aliceinwl]

If you also changed your lighting and temperature regime 1.5 years ago, I’d just give it time. If the lighting and temperature regime has not changed, you could try to up the light on the non-bloomers or provide a more dramatic cool down.

Some of my Phals don’t spike until temperatures warm up in the spring while others spike while temperatures are still cool. It’s not until year two or three that I really get a handle on what a plant will do under my conditions. The first year they’re kind of scrambled from the grower and if I got them in poor condition they often need a second year to recover.

[twinkie]

Originally Posted by Irisha99

Yes, it’s between 63-68F in the room. I actually have two phals in bud but the other 4 are not

Is that your daytime or night time temp? My phals only bloom when temp drops into mid to high 50's at night. In the Fall I leave a North facing window cracked in 'their room' and that seems to do the trick. My daytime I set at 70-72, so a 15 degree drop is what I go for and I just crack that window once or twice.

I've also got 2 phals not blooming right now out of 7 but one I suspect is because he really doesn't like his pot, and the other is focusing on leaf growth after I repotted.

Do all your phals have the same growing medium in their pots? I've got most of the current bloomers in a new higher quality mix after repotting a while back, and interestingly the two not blooming have the old mix. I'm going to change it out at some point and suspect this is part of the problem. Nice choice in pots by the way, I've got that same pot! Great price and good size.

[Irisha99]

Thanks, I’ll try increasing the light. The potting mix is the same for both, Twinkie. I use orchiata mix. Providing cooler temperatures is tricky. They are in the room on a window sill. Outside is freezing cold, I can’t take them out. And to open the window in the room would make the room cold. Day time and night temperatures range from 63-68F. I live in NYC and it’s a rollercoaster from 10F to 50’sF in a matter of days. Maybe I’ll wait and see what happens in a month or two. It might bloom later 🤷*♀️

[twinkie]

Originally Posted by Irisha99

Thanks, I’ll try increasing the light. The potting mix is the same for both, Twinkie. I use orchiata mix. Providing cooler temperatures is tricky. They are in the room on a window sill. Outside is freezing cold, I can’t take them out. And to open the window in the room would make the room cold. Day time and night temperatures range from 63-68F. I live in NYC and it’s a rollercoaster from 10F to 50’sF in a matter of days. Maybe I’ll wait and see what happens in a month or two. It might bloom later 🤷*♀️

What is your heat source? I only crack the window when night time Fall temperatures are obviously falling, just to give them that shock but I know it won't get too too cold. Then I use my low-set thermostat to continue with cooler temps for another week or so, then turn night time temp up inside a bit. Once they spike I keep at very lowest high 50's and low to mid 60's at night (I'm a weenie, I use an electric blanket ) and then turn it up in the day to 70-72 or even higher. I'm not sure how you could lower your night temps besides cracking a window or setting your thermostat lower, which right now is probably not a good idea!
Are you using any kind of bloom booster such as Jack's? I'm no expert but after the last blooms have fallen I watch to see what the plant seems to be going for, I decide whether I need to repot, pump it back up with bloom boost or leave it be while it focuses on leaf growth etc. Summer blooms usually leave a window of some weeks before true Fall when the plant will indicate which way it's fixin' to go, so I follow that. Some plants I cut one spike back and leave the strongest looking etc. and usually they will roar to life shortly. I also catch rainwater and use only that, tepid, and soak the phals water up to the rim of the pot for about 15 minutes, mornings up til noon on sunny days only, then I use water soluble Jacks, let drain, put back on their moist pebble trays. I bet your other phal will spike soon with the coming warming weather. Cheeky little devil is making you wait!

[Irisha99]

We have water pump heating system. If I open that window, my husband will shoot me ☠️ We pay so much money for heating and if I open the window in one room it cools that room down but heating system will kick in and try to heat the entire house. Which is expensive lol 🤑 well, those plants of mine will have to deal with 63F as the lowest. Thank you for giving me hope

[aliceinwl]

Most of mine are on window sills. Both my home and office where I have them are heated and the Phals still spike. I’d give time a try and then lighting. I do have one long term Phal that hasn’t rebloomed for me. I moved it to a brighter location last spring and I’ll see if that does the trick this year. If it doesn’t, I’ll probably put it outside for a couple of weeks next fall to experience colder temperatures. If yours don’t bloom for you this year, maybe you could try cracking the window for a few weeks next fall after temperatures drop but before they get really frigid?