How can I get my Phal to reflower? - Orchid Board

junklecat · #1 09-21-2008, 12:26 PM

I've had my phal for just over three months, and it was about halfway through flowering when I bought it. Since then it has grown a small new leaf, but it hasn't flowered. How long will it take to flower again, and does it need any special conditions?

camille1585 · #2 09-21-2008, 01:06 PM

Hi Junglecat,
Here is the OB care sheet for phals. I think that you should find all the information you need there! If you still have questions after, don't hesitate to ask, that's what OB is for.

Phal care sheet

A new leaf is good! Sometimes it takes a while for new spikes to appear, it just depends on the plant. Some take less than 2 months to start a new spike, others take 6 months.

RosieC · #3 09-21-2008, 02:32 PM

It can sometimes take a while to produce a new spike.

Just do all you can to care for it and keep it happy and healthy (the care sheets Camille gave a link for should help with that) and it should flower again.

My older one used to produce a flower spike each spring but my two new ones (bought in flower in April) are producing new spikes now and one should flower again soon.

One thing I've heard from a relative is that a higher temperature difference between night and day can promt a Phal to produce a spike again. Mine get this over the winter and I put this down to why it flowered in the spring, but now my new ones are flowering again sooner I'm not so sure.

junklecat · #4 09-21-2008, 02:42 PM

Thanks so much! I've heard the same thing anout the tempurature difference, and I'm trying that now, but I've onl been doing it for a few days.

camille1585 · #5 09-21-2008, 02:49 PM

Unlike Cyms for instance, phals don't need that big of a temperature difference. While cyms need a 10°C difference, phals only need a few degrees difference for a few weeks. Also from what I've read on internet, it's not the day/night temp difference that initiates spiking, buy rather a general cooling down on day and night temperatures. Rosie C, many of my phals set spikes during the summer as well. I don't know what kind of summer you had, but in my area of France august was much cooler than june and july. That could explain the spikes...

RosieC · #6 09-21-2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585

Many of my phals set spikes during the summer as well. I don't know what kind of summer you had, but in my area of France august was much cooler than june and july. That could explain the spikes...

Yes we had quite a cool August as well so I think you are right. All three of mine started to spike this summer including the sick one (I had to remove that to stop it wasting energy but now it's spiking again... and it's still sick, I may have to remove another one from it).