I haven't killed them yet...

[Inara]

But all the buds did fall off my phal orchid over the past week. Personally I think it was the changing tempatures of both going from the florist to my office, and then from my office into my house. Plus, in Wisconsin we have had the crapiest weather and barely any sunshine over the past week.

Leaves are still looking good... they kept their dark green color, maybe lightened slightly (too little sun?).

What do I do now? Keep watering obviously... but do I do anything with the stalk that the buds were on? Is there a chance they will "recover" and send out more buds?

Sorry for the complete lack of technical terms.

[Gin]

Hi ,
Bud blast happens or they were older blooms .
If the spike is still green leave it on the plant it might send out side branches from it and rebloom for you .
If the leaves have lightned it is probably from more light .
If the spike turns brown that is the time to cut it off , about an inch from where it attatches to the plant .
Happy Growing .... Gin

[Djarum Black]

Hi Inara,

I'm not the best phal grower on the planet but sounds like budblast from the cold. Also you said the leaves were dark green? Probably means too little light maybe? Mine tend to be a sort of bottle green color when they are happy.
As for your stem I wouldn't cut it till the plant rejects it and it turns dead looking. As long as the orchid isn't in trouble it might send up more buds from another node. I've had it happen to me many times. In fact on several occasions I've had phals who have held their green bare stems for a whole year and then rebloomed from the same stem.

[Inara]

Thank you!

Hmmm... what is bottle green? I'm not sure how green is "dark" or too light.

[Djarum Black]

Bottle green is a little like the color of a lime I guess. If your plant was flowering though I think it's color was good. Dark green leaves on orchids look very deep green.

I don't know really. I know there are some people who can flower phals practically in the dark. Mine won't bloom for me that way though even if the culture info said low light on some of them. I have one that I had to stick practically under the bulbs to do anything lol.

[Inara]

Hmmm... this is making me think I should get some sort of light setup for them. This time of year in wisconsin is VERY dreary... I don't think I've seen the sun out for more than 30 minutes in two weeks.

[justatypn]

Inara, bud blast is a given with phals, they are temperamental but the easiest to figure. I had my phal less than 3 months ago loose its buds due to a fan cutting the stem. I left the stem as is and to date it is blooming (see thumbnail). I asked the same question when this happened and it will come around. If it misses a year of blooming just think what it would be like next year

You grow indoors? in the winter, and outside? in the summer? You might want to consider a lightening set up. Searching the OB will give you something to work with and don't hesitate to ask, speaking of orchid terms...not to worry, comes with experience and I still speak in plant terms...we will get your terminology.

[Inara]

Probably pretty much exclusively indoors... I live in apartments and my next one MIGHT have a balcony but not likely.

[Ross]

Yes I think your Phals might benefit from a grow light. Only need 500-1000 footcandles however. Be careful of too much and no full sun.