Help! Reblooming a Phalaenopsis - Orchid Board

drmckeown · #1 05-03-2009, 03:26 PM

Hi
I have a phalaenopsis that was huge and beautiful last year. It had 3 stalks and at least 25 blooms on it. I've had orchids in the past, and never had any problems getting them to rebloom, but this one is being stubborn. It has a new leaf coming in and just sprouted 3 new roots, but there is no sign of a new stalk.
It sits in a north west window of Burnaby, B.C., where it gets filtered light. I've recently repotted it with fresh orchid mix and followed some advice i found on the forum about watering with epsom salt water. That was a couple of months ago now, and the most action i've seen is the new roots.
Any suggestions on how to get it to rebloom?
Thanks!

SP2340 · #2 05-03-2009, 07:51 PM

Hi, welcome! You might have to increase the amount of light it receives.. that's usually why they don't bloom. But increase the light slowly.

Miyuki · #3 05-03-2009, 07:58 PM

The best results I've had in getting bloom spikes is to ensure a drop in temperature. I have mine in a room that is effected by the change in seasons. As soon as the temperatures drop in the fall, bloom spikes follow soon after. Two plants that I tried at my office refused to bloom for 2 years, so I brought them home last fall, and they are both in full bloom right now.

Brooke · #4 05-03-2009, 08:11 PM

If it is a summer bloomer, it could need the rise in the temps to set spikes.

Brooke

wizard425 · #5 06-13-2009, 11:45 AM

I am having the same problem....most of my original blooms on both the phal and mini's have fallen off and I don't see evidence of new blooms...I am very new at this, so maybe I don't know what to look for...any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks

camille1585 · #6 06-13-2009, 12:54 PM

Hi Wizard,
How long have they been out of bloom? After the blooms drop, phals usually get busy with some leaves and roots for a few months. If i has been a long time since it bloomed, usually the main cause of lack of blooms is lack of light. Try moving it progressively somewhere where it gets a bit more light, and a bit of direct sun in the morning or late afternoon is well tolerated, if you adjust them to it slowly. Most hybrid phals start blooming in the winter, since they need a general drop in temperatures to initiate spikes. At our latitudes, this naturally happens in the fall, thus the winter blooms.

wizard425 · #7 06-13-2009, 01:00 PM

Hi Camille,
My phal has been out of bloom for about a month. I have the morning sun, slightly filtered.
Thanks for your help.
Lynne

camille1585 · #8 06-13-2009, 01:05 PM

A month is quite short. Normally you should be seeing some new leaves now. If it has enough light and behaves like a normal phal, you should expect a spike in the fall. But you may get lucky, some phals are bloomaholics and spike anytime!

Ray · #9 06-13-2009, 03:07 PM

A very general rule (meaning it will be often broken) is that phals in the white/pink color ranges tend to be winter bloomers, as they require a few weeks of cooler-than-normal temperatures to initiate spiking, and that usually happens in the autumn.

Plants in the red/yellow colors have more equatorial species in their background, so tend to be summer bloomers.