Phal still not spiked! - Orchid Board

annehylee · #1 05-05-2010, 10:07 PM

Hi everyone,

I have 3 phals which are very healthy and green. They were healthy when they were in bloom and thanks to the clear pots that it is in, the roots are very healthy as well. I cut the spike all the way down to the bottom about a year ago and I still don't have a spike! I see that it is growing new roots and I have repotted these since about 6 months ago and no root rots. It has grown a leaf or two since then but no spike, no flower. How long does it generally take before it spikes again?

Thanks a bunch!

quiltergal · #2 05-05-2010, 10:20 PM

Hi Anne. There are a couple of reasons it may not have spiked. Phals generally like at least a 10 degree difference between day and night temps to initiate spikes. That generally seems to coincide with fall. They could also need more light. I grow my Phals under lights in a southwest facing window so they get pretty bright but not direct light.

annehylee · #3 05-05-2010, 10:33 PM

Thanks Terri! I did hear that phals like to bloom under the condition where the temperature varies the most between day/night. So I was really hoping that it would bloom around September and October, but fall came and went and no spikes! I did move in November and at our new house, it was facing the south/east window and I did notice that the leaves are a lot greener and brighter with that extra bit of sunlight. I'm so hesitant to pick up another phal or two. I can barely get the three that I have to bloom, lol...

Izzie · #4 05-06-2010, 03:29 PM

Terri is right. What kind of temperature difference have they been getting between night and day?
The change of length in days during the fall is another cue that helps them to bloom- so try not to have artificial lighting going near them when the sun goes down.

Are you fertilizing them?
The brighter leaves are a good sign, I'd keep them in they are in now.

annehylee · #5 05-06-2010, 11:07 PM

My room is upstairs and it's consistently warm. I think you guys r right about not having enough variance in temperature. So starting yesterday, I have started to move them around. The problem is my room always stays warm and my livingroom does not provide the proper lighting for my phals. So now, I move them to my basement every night and bring it up to my room each morning. They get nice filtered sunlight all morning and day and by evening, they r in the cool basement. I hope this works. My bf thinks I'm crazy moving them around all over the house but anything for my orchids! Lol...

annehylee · #6 05-06-2010, 11:11 PM

Oh btw Izzie, I'm not fertilizing it right now. Should I be? I thought it only needs it when it's flowering...

Zoi2 · #7 05-07-2010, 12:12 AM

Anne, the day/night temp difference is basically for the fall. When the days get shorter, the temps get cooler. Phals (and others) need that temp change to iinitiate spiking/blooming. Now is the blooming and growing season (not for all orchids) so yes the plants need to be fertilized. Leave your plants in an area where they will get good indirect sunlight and leave them there to promote growth. This fall they will need a 10-15 degree drop in temps at night. Next spring you should have blooms. That is the basic rule of thumb.....phals can and will break rules, you just never know when that spike will imerge.

Joann

Izzie · #8 05-07-2010, 01:53 AM

Joann cleared it up.

I've heard and experienced that a lot of orchids like that temperature difference all year round- I get much better growth that way, not just flowering.

As far as your room- why is it constantly warm? This is just me, but my family has always had the thermostat drop at night to save on bills- of course, I don't know what your situation is.

annehylee · #9 05-07-2010, 09:13 AM

Thanks for the summary Joann, that's a great wrap up!
Izzie as for ur inquiry about my room being warm, we have not had our heater on at all actually for the last couple of months. We were lucky in Toronto this year as the weather has been so mild. The thing that causes my room to be warm is my TV. I have a huge 52" LCD TV and my room is quite small. So when I have the TV on in the evening, it warms up the room. But we just moved into this house last November and have only really spent 1 season here so far.