When to expect spike on repotted phal

[dlkc]

Hi,

I have been doing the orchid growing thing for about 5 months now. I have repotted 2 phals and they are both growing new leaves now. The first one was repotted in May the second was repotted in July. The first one has new roots as well.

I was wondering when I might expect a spike to form, if at all. I have always had orchids produce leaves, but never a spike. Any suggestions for successful spiking would be gladly appreciated!

Thanks,
D

[Poppyseed]

Hard to tell based just on repotting. I think it's all a matter of proper fertilization, proper lighting and air circulation. If your orchid is pushing out new leaves and roots, she's obviously happy! You just have to be patient, and it'll come sooner or later.

[RosieC]

A lot of Phals (but not all) are prompted to spike by the natural drop in temps in the Autum (Fall).

If you heat your home to the extent where there is no temp drop you may have problems but a drop of arround 10F is usually enough.

I heat my home in the day but let the temps drop at night in the cooler weather and that seems to be enough for them.

[dlkc]

Thanks for the tips! I am trying to be patient, but sometimes it is hard. ha ha.

Rosie, my home is starting to drop in temperature as I don't heat my main area (where the orchids are) at night. I hope it works. How long did it take your phals to spike after the drop in temperature?

[RosieC]

They can be quite quick once the temp drop is enough (couple of weeks).

We actually had a temp drop mid-August and mine that didn't spike earlier in the year have started spiking now.

Last autum/winter my house got too cold (we had a really cold winter here) and mine went dormant instead of spiking. I was quite worried as I had no spikes over the winter. Then as spring warmed up about half of the Phals started spiking and those are actually in flower now, with one later one about to open soon. Now as I said above most of the others have started with the cold spell we've just had.

[Call_Me_Bob]

how long should the cold be to initiate the spikes rosie? there is a show coming up near the end of october, and i would like to have some flowers on my phals.

[Lagoon]

Hi D,

Its a good sign that you're orchid is throwing out new root growth and new leaves. Its pretty typical before the spiking happends. You could see a spike within a couple of weeks, aslong as 3 months it'll vary from orchid to orchid.

I know alot of folks say to give a cool down for phals. I've never had to do this. I've always went with more light. Right now with 36+ and going up in the next few days, I've got phals spiking in the last couple of days. Their about 4 to 6 weeks early this year, its been a strange year anyways.

Just keep on doing what you're doing,you're phal seems pretty happy right now.

[RosieC]

I heard somewhere here on OB that different Phals respond to different triggers. Some respond to light while others respond to temps.

With the mass produced hybrids which are everywhere they probably have parents with both types of trigger in their background. Now I'm not a genetics expert, but I guess that could mean they may have one, they may have the other... or they may even have both triggers.

I know all my hybrid Phals respond to temps. I have a bellina species which seems to have responded to light, although it's only growing it's first spike now so I only have the one instance to base this on.

[orchidsamore]

There are many more factors in blooming than just temperature.

Shortened length of day is a factor usually not mentioned. It gets cooler when the days shorten in winter and the plant responds to both conditions.

Phals only need about 1000 foot candles to flower so light is not usually much of a factor.

Now here is where it gets difficult. Phals normally flower once a year. To have flowers in the summer for sale growers heat the plants in the winter and cool them in the spring.

If you bought a plant in the summer the plant may not have enough time to build strength for the next 'normal' season's flowers and may skip flowering the first year in your home.

dlkc - it seems you bought your Phal in bloom in January so do not expect flowers again until next January.

Help
I do not think you will get any flowers in Penn. in October. Even if it spiked now the flowers would not be open that fast. Spikes take quite a while to open flowers.

Discussions about Phals usually are discussing normal hybrid Phals sold in big quantities. All the advice in this thread applies to these hybrids.

Many of the smaller species Phals normally bloom in the summer, so if you want year round flowers you need to grow several different types

[dlkc]

Thanks to everyone for your responses!

I hope they spike someday! ha ha.

Danielle