Phals doing nothing - Orchid Board

Musea · #1 12-28-2019, 06:10 PM

Hi everyone,
This summer I have found a bunch of orchids on sale at my local Walmart. I have bought many, I chose the ones with the healthiest roots and leaves. They were in bark so I repotted them right away, also in bark, in clear pots with holes all over for aeration. I water and fertilize them and always put them back facing the same way but they are literally doing NOTHING

I do not want or expect them to bloom as I bought them right after they dropped their flowers but I am waiting for new leaves or roots. They are also not dying, leaves are green, there are roots that seem to be healthy, some minor mechanical damage from the way they were handled in the store, most of them had dropped their bottom leaf but I guess that is normal after repotting? Should I change something, is there anything I can do or is that normal? It’s been a good couple of months since I got them so I don’t know if that’s ok.

P.s. on most I have cut the flower spike but on some I have left it and 2 of them are growing an additional spike from that old one, now I don’t know if maybe I should have cut them all so the orchids would focus on growing new roots and leaves instead of flowers?

Dollythehun · #2 12-28-2019, 06:50 PM

Relax. They are probably fine and just adjusting, as you would after a move to a new home. As to cutting the flowering stems, you'll get as many different opinions as we have members. When you cut above a node, you often get a new spike from that point. Orchids don't do anything fast and it sounds as though you're doing everything right.

Roberta · #3 12-28-2019, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musea

P.s. on most I have cut the flower spike but on some I have left it and 2 of them are growing an additional spike from that old one, now I don’t know if maybe I should have cut them all so the orchids would focus on growing new roots and leaves instead of flowers?

If you're getting a new spike from the old, that's not NOTHING! That's something nice. Orchids grow slowly... they teach patience. Even one or two new leaves in a year is fine if the plant looks healthy. With repotting, you are keeping the existing roots happy. New ones will come along eventually.

A thought... how good is the light that they're getting? They want indirect light, but for as many hours a day as you can manage. I found that I got better growth, and especially flowering, when I supplemented what came in the window with the cheapest fluorescent lights (no particular benefit with grow lights) on a timer 12 hours a day. LEDs would be more energy efficient (when I did it they weren't commonly available)

Fairorchids · #4 12-28-2019, 06:53 PM

Phals sold in stores have been driven HARD to produce that first flower spike, so they can be sold.

If you decide to grow the plants on, it often takes 12-18 months before they produce the next flower spike.

SaraJean · #5 12-28-2019, 06:54 PM

Welcome!

I’m thinking they just need a little more time. If they are receiving good light, proper watering, and are otherwise healthy, you should start to see some growth in the spring. Phals don’t have a resting or dormancy period but they do slow way down in the winter. Shorter days mean less light and cooler temps (even if it’s on a windowsill indoors) can make them put on the breaks for a couple of months. If you bought these in the summer and repotted them, they were likely just getting settled into your environment when the fall and winter rolled around. Plus these came from the store and were probably forced to grow and bloom and just need a break, lol

Give it some time and don’t worry about fertilizer too much. I don’t know what the concentration is of your fertilizer or how much and how often you are using it, but fertilizer isn’t going to make them grow. Orchids have pretty low nutritional needs. If the other conditions like light and water are met and it’s growing, then fertilizer can help support that growth

As far as cutting the spikes, if the orchid looks to be in good shape you can certainly leave them on. If it looks like it’s struggling (more leaves start dropping, maybe the roots are in bad shape, ect) I would certainly cut them off.

Musea · #6 12-28-2019, 07:12 PM

Thank you everyone, I guess as long as they do not die or get sick it must just be a matter of time.

---------- Post added at 05:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:07 PM ----------

Yes, you are right, that is indeed nice, I was referring to the other “sleeping” ones

I only noticed the new spikes yesterday and it was really a surprise. I can’t wait for them to bloom because the color and pattern are a mystery 😁

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

If you're getting a new spike from the old, that's not NOTHING! That's something nice. Orchids grow slowly... they teach patience. Even one or two new leaves in a year is fine if the plant looks healthy. With repotting, you are keeping the existing roots happy. New ones will come along eventually.

A thought... how good is the light that they're getting? They want indirect light, but for as many hours a day as you can manage. I found that I got better growth, and especially flowering, when I supplemented what came in the window with the cheapest fluorescent lights (no particular benefit with grow lights) on a timer 12 hours a day. LEDs would be more energy efficient (when I did it they weren't commonly available)