Orchid Progress

[en3rmax]

Hi there, thought i's share some new orchid pics, i've just watered and cleaned them.

Is there any chance that my phal on the right will re spike this year?

[RosieC]

Most likely you will get a spike start over the winter, to flower next yet.

Many Phals tend to start a spike when the temp drops. If you keep the house heated all the time it may cause a problem for that, but I find that by heating the house in the day and letting the temp drop at night my Phals start spiking and bloom in the spring.

[stefpix]

But then how do you sleep comfortably at night? wool pajamas?
I am in NYC and I cant control the heat of my apt - sometimes it gets really hot when the heating is on - and can get quite cold when it is off...
the landlord decides hours and temps...

how long has to be the temp drop period?
if i put my phals outside the window in oct/npv for a week or 2 - would that be enough?

[greenbean]

I wouldn't recommend putting your Phals outside during Oct/Nov. I'm not sure what your temperatures are like that time of year, but given your latitude I assume that at night the temperature drops well below 50 during those months. Perhaps try late September/early October?

Remember, many Phals need cool temperatures to initiate spiking. This does NOT mean COLD! Phals can't handle temperatures below 50-55 degrees. Maybe some can handle slightly lower temperatures, but I wouldn't risk it.

[RosieC]

We have more control I guess, as well as a well insulated house, so while the temp drops it does not go too cold. Even so, it feels cold when we wake up in the morning, but nice and snug under the thick duvet.

I know that in the day we keep the heating arround 19C (66F). At night it drops but I would doubt it drops below about 14C (57F). I didn't have a min/max thermometer to measure what it dropped to last year, but I have one this year so I will be able to see what is happening.

[lais817]

Here in the tropics some of the growers I've spoken to recommend water with ice cubes in the water, as our temps here only get down to about 16 degrees celcius during winter, seems to work.

[angeleyedcat]

Hello Not an expert here at all but I live in PA not very far from you. This is my first year trying to rebloom phals but we've been having outdoor night temps most of the time that are already too cold for them (a few 40's, a few rare 60's, but mostly barely mid 50's - NYC is usually a few degrees warmer) so I can't reliably do it outdoors. What I'm trying right now is to put the phals in a window where I can leave the window open all day and then closing the window at night when the outdoor temps hit 58 or so. The room, especially the window area, is then cooler all night or at least for quite awhile. This way I'm getting the temperature drop/larger temperature range from warmer day to cooler night. I've read an east window would be best but the only window/room I have available to get cooler without a problem is a south window (but it doesn't get sun all day) I've put sheer curtains in the window and have the phals several inches back behind the curtains. So far they seem happy, not sure how many weeks it might take. I'm hoping it works, maybe this is an idea that might help you?

[irrka]

i live in nyc and have rebloomed my phals for the past couple of years. basically i'll just leave them on the windowsill while the windows are open, then when it gets a little cooler i crack the window open and let that air cool them at night, and once i need to close the windows i just close them. seems to be enough of a temperature drop for both me and them good luck!