Phalaenopsis petals didn't unfurl

[sunfire]

I have 2 NOID smaller form phalaenopsis where it seems the petals are not going to unfurl.

Background- plants were both nearly rootless a year ago due to my ill-care (inherited from my aunt in good condition). I didn't really want them to die so I fortunately found this site and firstrays and transferred to SH using monthly kelpak/Quantum-Total and other times MSU rainwater formula at around 50ppmN or just straight rainwater. Spike was initiated early winter, moved inside on top of a heatpad and under growlights. I was excited to see the flower for the first time but the petals aren't fully opening. The sepals are nice though. Same thing on both plants. I didn't know they were going to be identical and I don't know anything more about the plants history.

Curious if anyone has seen this? I found this other post with a similar problem but that was attributed to old medium. My roots are doing well as shown.

My only thought is maybe the grow light is too bright? It measures about 1200fc at leaf level and I had it on for 10hrs earlier and recently reduced it to about 7. I do have some purple coloring on some of my other phals in the same area. I don't have any pests or other diseases as far as I can tell.

Just curious if anyone has any thoughts.






Below is the first bloom of a larger phal in the same area without this issue (just opened). This plant did bloom last year (was in sphag but in better condition and I transferred to SH at the same time as the others).

[Ray]

I would speculate that it's either insufficient humidity, or that is a flower that genetically cannot open all the way.

[sunfire]

Wow! That was fast!

My humidity is 40% (measured close to where these sit) and I try to increase it locally by leaving a good pool of water in the tray after each watering (water level in tray is below the pot holes and evaporates relatively quickly being over the the heat mat).

Yes, I was thinking perhaps just genetic but .

But thank you Ray for your great site and products! It is much more fun now that I have the tools under my belt to keep them alive and even reblooming!

Originally Posted by Ray

I would speculate that it's either insufficient humidity, or that is a flower that genetically cannot open all the way.

[Roberta]

Could be genetic, but I'd give it another year and another blooming to decide that... Given that the plant has battled back from some "insults", it may be that it just doesn't have the energy yet for a proper blooming. So be patient, see if the next blooming improves.

[sunfire]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Could be genetic, but I'd give it another year and another blooming to decide that... Given that the plant has battled back from some "insults", it may be that it just doesn't have the energy yet for a proper blooming. So be patient, see if the next blooming improves.

Thank you. Yes... they were very insulted...

Looking through my old photos and these are the same plants just less than a year ago! I am quite happy at how far I was able to bring them back.

[Roberta]

Fantastic improvement! The new photos show beautiful roots. So I think it is very possible that the plant just needs some more time to get its strength up to be able to make better flowers. My mantra, "Orchids teach patience".

[estación seca]

Have you ever seen this flower before? There are Phals that are supposed to look this way.

[DeaC]

Hi. The first foto actually reminds me of a noid Phal. I bought in the past which displayed the "cupping" of petals that I find attractive. She's lovely.

[sunfire]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Have you ever seen this flower before? There are Phals that are supposed to look this way.

Nope. This is the first bloom for me since it has been in my care. For my learning- is there a botanical term used for this if it is actually a true to form phenotype?

[estación seca]

The botanical term could be "porrect" or "flexed". I don't remember the marketing term for this shape. They are said to resemble Lycaste flowers.