Rescue orchid growing flower spike in cramped window

[visuallace]

Ok, so I rescued this clearance orchid from the home improvement store maybe 6 months back; it was half rotted and had a couple shriveled flower spikes with no flowers, and 2 or 3 leaves that were at least partially salvageable. I put it in my bathroom windowsill and when it looks dry I water it in the shower. It's really been taking off, lots of new roots and leaves. I've been meaning to put it somewhere else, as it's grown too big now for the narrow window, but I wasn't sure if it would be so happy in another room.

Well, when I took it down to water it today, I saw that it had a flower spike growing on the side that faces the window. I've never had an orchid live to rebloom, and I've got no idea what the flowers on this one even look like. So exciting! But what should I do with it? There's not enough room where it's been sitting for the spike to grow out. The spike was already pressing against the window. Should I find it a bigger window in another room? Put it outside during the day (it's been in the 60s - 70s F here lately)?

[Roberta]

First, welcome to the Orchid Board! And congratulations on reblooming that rescue!

Flower spikes do tend to grow toward the light, and changing the direction of the plant once in spike tends to lead to twisted, unattractively-displayed spikes. Yours is still small enough that the effect of changing its direction will not be large. Finding a larger window would certainly be of benefit. Not outside... days are fine but nights no doubt are cooler (you don't say where you are). A trick that i have used when a spike starts growing horizontally like that... I make a little wire stake with a loop at the end, and place it under the spike, gently moving it up a very little bit at a time (just a small pressure in the direction that I want it to go) Gentle and gradual are the super-important words here. Just a little too much pressure and it snaps. And that's also assuming that it's not one of the Phals whose ancestry produces sequentially blooming flowers on horizontal spikes... if this was a generic plant (Phal Home-Depotium or Phal Walmartium...) probably not one of those, so expect the spike to get much longer. Also, if you move the plant, try to change conditions such as light as little as possible. For watering, the source isn't important, pouring it through the plant medium and letting it drain is ideal.

[visuallace]

Thanks! I'm in the Galveston area. It gets a bit cooler at night, but I don't mind bringing plants in at night if needed. I'll see if I can free up some space in front of one of the east windows downstairs.

[Roberta]

It's better if you can find a good place and leave the plant there. Even if not ideal, Phals do like fairly even conditions - they're likely to resent being constantly moved around . While temperature change may inspire spiking, yours clearly found what it wanted. Now, try for a "steady state". Also, once the buds develop they really hate change, which often leads to bud blast (tragic when you get it to "almost"...)

[ramboa]

Congrats on your rescue spiking!