How to get phal to synchronize flowering

[buffalo]

How to get phal to flower all at once. I have about 8 of them one flowering one has spike up others, no spikes.
Most of them in same location in front window (south facing) . What can i do to synchronize flowering. So all will flower around the same time.

[pedidiva]

This is what Bill, the orchid guy at the local botanical gardens, told me.

Repot the phals in October. Give them Epsom salts, that is supposed to help the spike send out more flowers. Maintain a temp drop of 10 degrees at night.

I haven't done that. I like having them do their spike thing when they want to. That way I have flowers at different times.

I bet others have some ideas.

Pedi

[Shirley]

Are you wanting all of the flowers on a single spike to open at one time? It is the nature of phalaenopsis that they start opening with the lowest flower and gradually open all the way up the stem. They won't open all at one time. Usually though the first bloom will last long enough that it will still be there when the top flower opens up.

[Blueszz]

Hi Buffalo,
IMHO it's not possible to synchronize them all. For hybrids all kind of species are use to create them and the genetics from these species still tell the plant when to flower.
For example, my whites and purples tend to flower about the same time, but my yellows flower around April/May which is a few months later than the others. Flower shape tells me the parents are totally different which might explain why these flower later during the season.
Also, plants that are forced to bloom by a nursery might need a while to get used to the growing conditions in your house, they even might skip a blooming season.

Nicole

[buffalo]

yes the hybrid factor could be an issue. They just might not cooperate all at the same time.

I may experiment with the epsom salt if i knew the method. Whats the method?
Thanks

[pedidiva]

Epsom Salts and Orchid Culture by Peter Spencer