growing a spike

[mattryan]

I haven't been on in a while I have been reading the posts and have a couple of questions, if someone would be so kind to help me with? Firstly this is my first year of trying to grow a spike (got a keiki, so far)rofl. I have been reading that now is a good time (if there is any) to cool my phals down to initiate a spike. I am in ontario, canada and it has been the hottest summer ever here. Today it only got to 15 celcuis..so our autumn is on it's way. Is it too early? Second ? is some of my phals lost roots on re-pot and i will not try with them, but i have some that i only cut their spikes 2 mos or more ago with them...should i try with them or wait a year? All of my phals grew roots and leaves over the summer. I also have a phal that had 2 spikes and only 1 had any flowers on it..they are both still grn....should i leave both til they turn brown, because i have no idea if the flowers had already fallen off the one, or will it stress the plant too much? This phal has has flowers on 1 spike since i got it in june. There's a pic of it in my gallery the orange one. Sorry for this long post...lastly is there a certain period of time you should wait before trying to grow a spike? Thankyou!

[johnblagg]

no reason you should wait at all if they decide to spike great .....

To initiate spikes cool weather does help but is not always the trigger some simply bloom any time they feel like it...water normaly and fertilise regular and if they are nice healthy looking plants let them have a cool spell especially if its nice normal fall weather.

Good luck and have paitence if they have not lost leaves and goten smaller than they were when you got them you will doi fine

[Zoi2]

This summer was really the pits heat wise here. Now with just 10-15 degree cooler temperatures, my phals are starting all kinds of new growth.

As John says, give them good culture and they will do ok.
Joann

[johnblagg]

This summer was really the pits heat wise here. Now with just 10-15 degree cooler temperatures, my phals are starting all kinds of new growth.

It was truly miserable growing weather everything here stalled almost totaly and has just in the last couple of weeks started to show new promise here as well.Just discovered new leaves on one of my paphs today and a new spike on a phal as well ....

[mattryan]

Thankyou for the replies. I have 1 more question it's probably a dumb one..but sorry new to this orchid thing. My temperature difference does it have to occur only at night. The temps are only getting to 12-17 celcius during the day here and haven't put the heat on in house yet. I don't want to put them outside in that kind of temp. Can i put them oustide during the day and bring in during the night? I so fused some say keep at 77 faren. and posts say temp drop any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks a bunch!