Unsuitable home?

[mayoo-k]

Hi Everyone!

I have a small problem, like most of you I really like orchids! I have only a few (4 phals, 1 dendrobium, 1 oncidium, 1 burrageara) my problem lies in my very naturally cold home!

I live in the UK, in a farm house and the building is on the top of a hill so its ALWAYS exposed to the weather, the winters are freezing and in the summer, even in REALLY high temperatures the house will stay cool. We very rarely use the central heating system as it is oil heated and very inefficient! and we heat with house with coal and wood on very cold days.

All my orchids are fine, the leaves are healthy and roots are fine. However they refuse to flower and stay in bloom if they do. bud drop is frequent and getting them to send out another spike has not happened yet and 2 of my phals I have had for 2 years and only seen root and leaf growth.

Any advice/help would be appreciated? is my home not for orchids then?

Regards
Mayoo

[johnblagg]

what kind of lighting do you have?
I grow phals in a very very cool house and while if its too cool I do get bud drop some....in fact the last week was very very cold and the house went down to 50-55 farenheight and I lost three of four small tender buds.I also have wood heat and you have to think about wood smoke and ethelyne gas as that can cause bud drop also.

ripening fruit will also do this so look for things like storing fruit near the orchids and how much smoke may get in the house from the wood stove

If you are getting spikes and then bud drop something is happening after buds have formed....

Your house is definatly for orchids and you are doing great you just need a little fine tuning.It could be not quite enough light also almost forgot what I was saying ...lol I ramble

[mayoo-k]

Thanks for the reply, they are on a north East window at the moment but that is because were only heating one room in the house (Kitchen / dinning room) during the winter this window has the most light (not direct). should I place some pebbles in a bowl with water next to them all for humidity, (I do mist them regularly though) none of them have re spiked but some have reflowered from where I have cut them at the top node.

[kavanaru]

I would say you have more aproblem with light than with temperature...

however, why don't you try growing coll and shade loving orchids? There many of them... e.g. Masdevallias

I could also suggest that if you have a garden, you place your plants outside during summer (let's say mid spring to beginning of Autumn)

[johnblagg]

I would say light to Kavanaru LOL it was what I started out to say and rambled on

[mayoo-k]

Thanks for the replies! I'll see what I can do to improve the light situation.

Thanks again.