Quote:
Originally Posted by miakaye
Thank you. So I should wait until next fall to start placing this orchid in a cold window at night to stimulate a new spike, correct?
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Phals are warm-growing tropical plants so they should
never be near anything cold (ice cubes I'm looking at you).
Scientific studies have suggested that night temperatures are irrelevant, if the day temperature is warm that alone will inhibit spike initiation even if the night time sees a considerable drop in temperature. What Phals need is a simple drop of about 10-15ºF in
average temperature that lasts for about two to three weeks to initiate a spike. Some growers also believe increasing light during this time helps. 68ºF seems to be low enough even if the previous average wasn't 10ºF higher. The minimum temp that most people seem to agree a Phal shouldn't go below is 60ºF.
I have Phals placed on a heat mat that are spiking right now without doing anything to induce it. The simple natural temperature variations were enough. I would observe and adjust the placement of the plant based on your own habits. Some people keep the heat on all winter, some prefer to use thick wool at home and only use heat occasionally. So the way that you individually manage your house's temperatures will have an effect.
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