Phal Problem - Orchid Board

kyt777 · #1 10-25-2008, 04:48 AM

I have 3 Phals. One is large, blooms often and is very healthy. I have had the other two for 9 years and they have never bloomed in spite of good light, repotting and/or fertilizer. Is this normal for some plants? Will it ever bloom at this point or should I throw it away and start with new ones?

Undergrounder · #2 10-25-2008, 07:18 AM

Any idea what kind it is, what its name is, or where you got it? Some plants are just duds, and some plants out of every cross are bound to be on the low end of the scale.

How are the non-blooming ones doing for leaf and root growth?

kavanaru · #3 10-25-2008, 08:50 AM

Kyt777,

what exactly do you mean with "good light"? Where are your plants (north, south, east, west windows)?, how far from the window (15, 30, 100 cm)?

Please note that what normally is appreciated as good light by the human exe, is not always exactly what plants consider good light: e.g. a supermarket is normally "Very good illuminated" for the customers, but plants would rarelly do well for a long time under this light (exceptions accepted

) A good way to determine whetehr your plants receive good light (although not always very accurate and valid) is how green your plants are: dark green = low light; light green = enough light; reddish leave = too much light.

Can you post pictures of your plants? that would help!

OrchidTess · #4 10-25-2008, 09:22 AM

I agree with all that was said above (light and overall growth) , my question is what are you fertilizing with??

camille1585 · #5 10-25-2008, 11:04 AM

Same questions as Ramon. what window, how far away? I've found that not all phals need the same amount of light to bloom. Some need a bit less than others, I suspect that it may have to do with parentage. So while your one flowering phal might like it where it is, your other two might think it's a bit too dark!

kyt777 · #6 10-25-2008, 02:14 PM

They are Moth Phals and are in a south window, protected in the short summer by an awning outside. At this time of year, they get the direct light....but never any sun directly on them as we have very little now till spring. Their leaves are very dark glossy green so they don´t seem to be unhappy with their placement. They are very close to the window but not touching it. I have, over the years, tried different windows. The one large one blooms no matter where it is. The others just never do. All three were given to me by a friend in 1999 and two of them look just the same as when she gave them to me. Few more leaves but not many.

Roots----well, I think they are not so terribly good. I have repotted them a few times and cut away the dead roots. I used Orchid medium. I dont see as many air roots as I think they should have. I use liquid orchid fertilizer but not very often on any of the three.

I am not one to throw out plants if they have life in them and I would love to have these bloom. I would think if they have not bloomed since 1998 when my friend had them, they probably won´t. Or......?

camille1585 · #7 10-25-2008, 02:21 PM

That is very strange.The lighting sounds perfect, and obviously the 3rd one enjoys it. Have the two non bloomers been growing new leaves/roots regularily over the years? If not they might just be weak plants that will never amount to anything. But if they are otherwise healthy, then strange indeed. How much/how often and with what NPK ratio do you fertilize them? If you haven't been fertilizing much, they might just be a little starved.

Ross · #8 10-25-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyt777

but never any sun directly on them as we have very little now till spring. Their leaves are very dark glossy green so they don´t seem to be unhappy with their placement.

I think you've identified the culprit - not enough light. For instance, here is one of mine on a sunny fall day:

You can see a bit of red along leaf margins and the crown is reddish as well. It has two emerging spikes.

You could try supplementing natural light with artificial light?

Mine is fertilized with weak fertilizer (125ppm nitrogen) with every watering. In summer with higher humidity that could be a couple times a week. Winter with dry air, this one gets water/fertilizer every other day almost. I use root color as a guide.

Brooke · #9 10-25-2008, 08:41 PM

It could also be temperature. Some need a warm up in the summer and some need a temperature drop to bloom.

Brooke

kyt777 · #10 10-26-2008, 04:52 AM

I fertilize with an orchid fertilizer that is 3(N), 1(Phos), 4 (Potass).

I wonder about my watering, actually. I have never truly understood and it seems "Ross" waters much more often than I do. I will try to water more often and see if it helps. Maybe their roots have dried out too much. They could just be "duds", too. Thanks for the help!