Phals no new spikes

[borofan]

I have about half a dozen store bought Phalaenopsis plants that flowered well (from about May to September last year) but are refusing to produce any new spikes this time around!

I suspect I probably cut down the spent spikes at the wrong place? I simply cut them down short without reference to any marks on them. Some guidance would be helpful please!

Mike

[Ray]

Most phalaenopsis initiate flower spikes in response to a temperature decrease. Specifically, they grow best if kept really warm, but will not start new spikes until they have experienced about two weeks at an average growing temperature that is 6-10C lower than it had been experiencing. After that, it should be returned to normal growing temperatures.

For the most part, home growers see that happen in the autumn, assuming their plants are near a window where the nighttime chill lowers the average sufficiently. The new flower spikes typically emerge 6-8 weeks later.

The reason you acquired plants in bloom at other times of the year is because commercial growers intentionally chill them to force them to bloom out of their normal season.

Assuming you are doing a decent job growing them, you'll likely see an exploding of flowers this winter.

[Swimmingorchids]

cutting the spikes was fine.
How much light do they get? Do they have plump green leaves that have grown longer since you've had them? I would tip on them receiving too little light.

[borofan]

Thanks both. The orchids get adequate light and have thrived in the position since I got them. Leaves have grown in size and some new ones are appearing. I suspect Ray's comments are probably nearest to the situation. Thanks for reassuring me that cutting the spikes isn't the problem.

[camille1585]

It's not ususual either for these sort of hybrid Phals to skip flowering the first blooming season after purchase. Possibly because the plants were pampered in a comemrcial greenhouse and grew + produced spikes quickly, and depending when purchased, were forced into bloom out of their normal season. So they need time to adjust to the less than optimal conditions in a home and need time to get back on a normal blooming cycle.

[Roberta]

Are they getting enough hours of light? When I first started with orchids, I had a bunch of Phals that would not bloom, though they were getting nice east light - that was direct 4-5 hours a day, then the sun shifted and it light was lower. I got some very inexpensive lights, put them on a timer 12 hours a day, and started to get about 80% rebloomng. It's not light intensity that they need, it's duration.

[borofan]

A further thank you! I think they are getting enough light - see my earlier response. I would also add that root production is going well too.