The Phal abuse ends here.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Talila6

Can I take my phal in basement for a few weeks out of the year to obtain the required time to set blooms?

My basement is about 58 degrees Fahrenheit , the humidity is about 60%.
I live in Wisconsin.
If adequate, when and for how long?
I would provide grow lights .. How long? 12-14 hours a day?

Your basement is fine. Just setup the lights, and it should be good to go.

2 weeks minimum time is all you really need. 1 month, if you want to make sure.

12 hrs of light is good enough.

[Talila6]

What is the general wisdom regarding putting out phal outside in the warmer months in Wisconsin? I have a spot on the north side of my garage. I read contradictory opinions. Some say, it can be successful, some say the phials are just too fragile to be outside at all.
I live in milwaukee , Wisconsin. Once in a while it gets quite hot up above 90 degree F. Several times in a summer, humidity quite high also. Of course, it gets cold early, so awareness of upcoming cold wave is important. How much of these extremes can the phal take?
Thank you for the time you take to monitor :"the abuse stops here! "

[Ordphien]

That depends on your micro climate.
In my area I can leave any tropical out all year round.
My neighbors porch is filled with phals year round and our winters reach the upper 20's to lower 30's.
But.... and this is a big but, our specific micro climate is rather humid and completely devoid of any frosts.
I would say..keep them indoors on your area.
They make excellent house plants.

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[Talila6]

When I place my phal(s) in basement for bud setting. Should I water regularly, or should they be a bit on dry side? ( I figure that since the plants go into a bit do dormancy they might not need to be kept as moist as when they are growing leaves or blossoms) what do you think?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Water regularly.

[amdrum09]

I have no clue what kind of orchid it is. It had purple and white flowers. Recently the leaves on bottom have turned yellow and 3 of the 5 have fallen off. The blooms have died and fallen off as well. What's wrong with my orchid?! It was soo pretty! It is still in the original pot it was bought in *from Walmart* I want to keep her alive! HELP!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If your orchid's flowers closely resembles the flowers of those in the pic of the following link, then it is a Phalaenopsis (aka Moth Orchid). It is also most likely so particularly since it was purchased at Walmart.

http://www.iosoc.com/PicsMadison04/1...ndy%20phal.JPG

[Talila6]

I think your problem is overwatering. Take the plant out of its pot and look at the medium it is planted in. I would bet a nickel that it is potted in 100% spaghum moss. The moss can stay wet for very long. If it is in one of those decorative pots without a drainage hole, your orchid is drowning, orchids also need to breathe, they grow as epiphyte plants.
On the other hand the symptoms of overwatering look the same as under watering. Once again the culprit could be the moss.
Good luck with your plant.

[amdrum09]

mine did not look like that, the outer part was white and the inner part was a purpleish color. trying to figure out how to post pictures for more help.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Let's approach this differently...

If the leaves on your plant were shaped like a paddle, and the flowers have rounded sepals and petals that superficially resemble a moth in appearance from a great distance, then your orchid, regardless of the color or patterning is in the genus Phalaenopsis. Phalaenopsis hybrids come in many different colors and patterns, unless you have a tag you will not know the exact name for the hybrid.

This is a Phalaenopsis:

http://www.orchidspecies.com/orphotdir/phalamablis.jpg

As is this:

Phalaenopsis*amboinensis*(Orchidaceae) at The Culture Sheet - The Web's niche for plant cultivation and horticulture

Phalaenopsis*amboinensis*(Orchidaceae) at The Culture Sheet - The Web's niche for plant cultivation and horticulture

This is a Phalaenopsis as well:

Big Leaf Orchid forum • View topic - Phal venosa and Phal celebensis 'Pylo'

This is also a Phalaenopsis:

IOSPE PHOTOS

A Phalaenopsis can have leaves that look like so:

Orchid log: Phalaenopsis hybrid with really long name

But they can also have leaves that look like this:

http://b1.rimg.tw/antonio2007/e2b3501a.jpg