Flower spikes in July... - Orchid Board

erock · #1 07-31-2010, 10:04 PM

2 of my Phals which I bought with flowers in May are doing great. About 2 months ago I removed their spent flower spikes, repotted them, and watched them grow new leaves and roots. Hoping to see flower spikes this fall/winter, I was shocked to see flower spikes last week. Why are they so off schedule??? I guess I'm doing something right... I thought they only bloomed once a year?? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

johnblagg · #2 07-31-2010, 11:11 PM

I think everyones are off schedual I have had several in bloom all summer and one in spike now

WhiteRabbit · #3 07-31-2010, 11:14 PM

well it must be happy!

camille1585 · #4 08-01-2010, 12:31 AM

While most phals do start spikes in the fall once the weather starts cooling down, Phals can pretty much bloom whenever they want. I have one that always puts out a new spike as soon as the previous one is done. I know someone else who kept them too cold in the fall/winter, and all of them are only just blooming now.

johnblagg · #5 08-01-2010, 09:18 AM

well now that I think about it ...DUH they have phals in bloom for the stores all the time

camille1585 · #6 08-01-2010, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnblagg

well now that I think about it ...DUH they have phals in bloom for the stores all the time

That's because the mass growers can do what they want with these plants. Normally phals respond to a general cooling of temperatures, which we get normally in the fall. These mass growers however can adjust temperatures in their greenhouses quite easily, adust light levels and nutrients just as easily. They know how to get double spikes on an entire crop, if that's how one of their products is to be sold. They are so efficient in growing these plants that from out of flask to blooming it's just 12 months, sometimes less.

If you are interested in how the big growers do it, I have the cultivation guidlines from Anthura. Cultivation Guidelines Phalaenopsis Pot Plant

johnblagg · #7 08-01-2010, 02:30 PM

wow very nice Camille thanks!!!

But still I shows that they can be forced to bloom anytime you want if you have the time and want to take the effort ....and just how much a cloudy cool spring can effect them or for that matter a cloudy cool period in summer which we just had a little spell of here not long ago after a very very hot dry month or two...and in fact a very unseasonable warm period this spring followed by more normal temperatures again...any of which could possibly kick a spike in to growth.

camille1585 · #8 08-01-2010, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnblagg

wow very nice Camille thanks!!!

But still I shows that they can be forced to bloom anytime you want if you have the time and want to take the effort ....and just how much a cloudy cool spring can effect them or for that matter a cloudy cool period in summer which we just had a little spell of here not long ago after a very very hot dry month or two...and in fact a very unseasonable warm period this spring followed by more normal temperatures again...any of which could possibly kick a spike in to growth.

Yup. A few year back we had a very hot May, and June was quite cool. Back then I only had a few phals, but I got spikes in July! I think part of it also depends how sensitive a certain phal is to changes. Some may need a strong and prolonged temp difference to bloom, and for others maybe the slightest temp drop sets them off.

RosieC · #9 08-02-2010, 09:34 AM

I got then starting when it turned cool in June as well a couple of years back.

Mine are actually in spike/opening flowers now. I think it's because I kept them too cold over the winter and they went dormant. They all started spiking arround late April/May when the weather finally warmed up and now I have a couple in full flower, some just starting to open and one just forming buds.