Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean
Login
User Name
Password   


Registration is FREE. Click to become a member of OrchidBoard community
(You're NOT logged in)

menu menu

Sponsor
Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.

Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean
Many perks!
<...more...>


Sponsor
 

Google


Fauna Top Sites
Register Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Members Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Today's PostsGetting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean
LOG IN/REGISTER TO CLOSE THIS ADVERTISEMENT
Go Back   Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web ! > >
Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-15-2024, 11:12 AM
dimshane dimshane is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 25
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean
Default Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean

Hi

I'm doing exceedingly well with dendrobiums, but phalaenopsis are giving me a challenge. Mostly, they look very healthy, but won't produce flower spikes. I have been reading a lot about how temperature affects blooming. I live in the Caribbean. My temperature hardly ever falls below 25C in the middle of winter. Is all hope lost for my phals?

I am currently trying a little experiment by leaving one phal in an air conditioned office, by the window. Around 22/23C Maybe that will encourage blooming?

Attached is an example of one of the phals.

Maybe I should stick to dendrobiums only 😕.

Any advice (particularly from those in hot climates)appreciated!
Attached Thumbnails
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean-img_20240215_111120-jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-15-2024, 11:16 AM
dimshane dimshane is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 25
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean
Default

Let me add. They all get morning sunlight for about 2 hours. And indirect light the rest of the day. I feed with miracle gro 30-10-10 maybe once weekly.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-15-2024, 11:25 AM
Roberta's Avatar
Roberta Roberta is offline
Super Moderator
 

Join Date: Jun 2008
Zone: 10a
Location: Coastal southern California, USA
Posts: 13,858
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Female
Default

I think that the issue may be light duration. I went from "not much blooming" to about 80% by adding supplemental lights 12 hours a day (on a timer) I have never particularly chilled my Phals... commercial growers do that to control the timing of blooming (the orchid that blooms just before Christmas or Mother's Day is worth more than one that blooms two weeks after) For hobby growers the timing is not so important.
__________________
Orchids teach patience!

Roberta's Orchids (visit my back yard)

See what orchid species are blooming in Southern California(New page for DECEMBER 2024)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-15-2024, 11:34 AM
estación seca's Avatar
estación seca estación seca is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jun 2015
Zone: 9b
Location: Phoenix AZ - Lower Sonoran Desert
Posts: 18,654
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Male
Default

Average temperature drop and slight light increase in Fall trigger flowering independently. Since controlling temperature would be difficult, I suggest you grow them in less light most of the year, and give more light in October/November. Move them away from the morning sun into medium shade for most of the year. In October move into more light for 6 weeks, then back into less light.
__________________
May the bridges I've burned light my way.

Weather forecast for my neighborhood
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-15-2024, 11:47 AM
dimshane dimshane is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 25
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean
Default

Ohhh ok then. Interesting. Varying durations of light. Food for thought. I guess I'll have to tough it out and keep trying things. Thanks for the ideas so far.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-15-2024, 12:11 PM
Ray's Avatar
Ray Ray is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2005
Member of:AOS
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 15,204
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Male
Default

HOW MUCH 30-10-10 weekly? (Real numbers, please, not nebulous stuff like "half strength".)

Excessive nitrogen can also quash blooming.
__________________
Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
FIRSTRAYS.COM
Try Kelpak - you won't be sorry!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-15-2024, 03:30 PM
dimshane dimshane is offline
Jr. Member
 

Join Date: Jul 2022
Posts: 25
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray View Post
HOW MUCH 30-10-10 weekly? (Real numbers, please, not nebulous stuff like "half strength".)

Excessive nitrogen can also quash blooming.
Tbh I haven't been very technical with it. The package said 1 tablespoon for a gallon. Some weeks I used that. Others I used about half tablespoon per gallon. Hope that clarifies it.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-15-2024, 04:47 PM
Dimples Dimples is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Jan 2022
Zone: 8b
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 956
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean
Default

I agree with the others. Cut back on the fertilizer a little and try to give them nice bright low light for as much of the day as possible. Some sheer curtains can do wonders.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-16-2024, 08:46 AM
Ray's Avatar
Ray Ray is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: May 2005
Member of:AOS
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 15,204
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Male
Default

Cut back on the feeding A LOT!

Quick rule-of-thumb: for any fertilizer, divide 8 by the %N in the fertilizer; the result is the dosage for weekly feeding, in teaspoons/gallon. In this case 8/30=0.267, so 1/4 tsp/gal weekly is far more appropriate.

If the plant has been excessively fed for a while, It may take many months at the lower rate before the bloom-quashing will subside.
__________________
Ray Barkalow, Orchid Iconoclast
FIRSTRAYS.COM
Try Kelpak - you won't be sorry!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-16-2024, 10:01 AM
rbarata rbarata is offline
Senior Member
 

Join Date: Mar 2015
Zone: 10a
Location: Abrantes
Posts: 5,539
Getting a Phal to bloom in Caribbean Male
Default

How much is a tea spoon in the USA?
__________________
Meteo data at my city here.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
blooming, caribbean, dendrobiums, phals, temperature


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Phal bellina bloom duration? bottlemarkercup Species 6 09-28-2017 05:28 PM
Phal: excessive blooms and bloom duration questions Nali12 Beginner Discussion 5 03-24-2016 07:41 AM
Phal Sogo Lovely in bloom RosieC Hybrids 16 04-17-2014 09:53 AM
My small list of Phals Call_Me_Bob Species 10 09-20-2012 11:28 PM
Phal hybrid in bloom Psyched Hybrids 5 05-05-2009 06:20 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:33 PM.

© 2007 OrchidBoard.com
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.37 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.

Clubs vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.