Phal wont spike HELP!

[grasshopper]

Thanks for the link/information, Ray. I had a 50% spike rate with my phals this year, which was disappointing. I will make a point this year to focus on average temperature range instead of just a 10-15 degree diurnal range.

[Bud]

Thank You, Ray ! My indoor temp is 80F ...this spring, I will put the Phals outside the window when it 65F to 70F; maybe they will bloom again early summer.

[Eahonn]

i appreciate all the input i will take all the help i can get. many of my orchids (7 of 19) were bag babies so this will hopefully be the first year i finally see some blooms. most of my collection have never seen in bloom. my b. nadossa is making a spike right now which i am thoroughly excited about.

[Paul Mc]

I can tell you that people in the st. Louis area have had issues with phal blooms this year, such as no spiking or not bold coloring. They have surmised its because we went from extreme heat to near freezing temperatures in about three weeks time so the orchids were not able to get the usual fall temperature change. I know I've always had my phals bloom every year and this year they haven't. Maybe I'll move them to the basement under grow lights for a few weeks and see what happens.

[Eahonn]

I also have 400 watt hps lights available.

[Connie Star]

It looks like we forgot-

Welcome to OB!

[Eahonn]

Thanks!

[aaronsaxton]

You can have a 95-100% spike rate on any Phal.

It is that the conditions must be right, and to have the conditions right, you need to understand what the Phal really needs.

It has been assumed that Phals needed low night temps to give a spike, but it has been established via study/science that it is 100% true that it needs the reverse - actual low day temps. What has actually been happening is the carried over effect of low night temps have been assisting the plants internal tissues hold a lower temp so that when daybreak comes, the internal tissues remain cold enough to give a spike.

People have assumed low night temps were the key. It is the reverse.

Phals take CO2 in at night rather than the day (they take very small amounts in during the day), so they end up closing the Stomata during the day and use the stored CO2 from the night to produce growth during the day. They are the reverse of most other plants, thus their needs are reversed when it comes to temps.

Because of this, it is vital the day temperatures inform the Phal what to do, not the night time.

If the plant is subjected to a period of 6 weeks with day time temps below 70 degrees, and on the 6th week light levels are increased by 10% or more, this will alter the metab of the plant and it will spike.

If you run the day temps for 6 weeks at 70 or even lower, you will get amazing flowers. After the 6 week temp drop, and light increase, run the plants at 73 or lower, you will have blooms, but keeping it at 68 would be really good to get long healthy blooms with big flowers. The warmer it is after the 6 week period, the faster you will see your flowers, but they will not be a lush as taking your time with lower temps.

As for the night time temps, just nothing over 73 if you can avoid it for a while, but technically speaking, it makes little difference what the night temps are.

If you want a super-spike that will put off a dozen or more, perhaps 2 spikes (so 24 flowers) than 6 weeks at 63 F day and night, increase light on the 6th week, and then try to keep the plant at least during the day at 63-68 or, have the night temp much the same. Allow the light to slowly increase or not - it will not matter.

You will have "super-spike". I currently have an oncidium I am manipulating and it has a 51" flower spike (4 & 1/3 feet) and should end up being 6 foot by the time I am done.

Try this (the temp adjustments) with your Phal and I assure you, it will have an incredible flower spike.

[The Mutant]

Oh, wow. That was an informative post. Thank you aaronsaxton.

Reading this it's no wonder my Phals are so willing to bloom considering the average temperature in the kitchen is about 68 during the winter (and it's no wonder they are such slow growers, even for being Phals). With the aid of better treatment I should be able to look forward to even more flowers and spikes in the future then.

[Eahonn]

Aaronsaxton: My phal is by a huge window and during the winter 60-65 in the summer they get 70-75 degrees for the temp. So from what you suggeted I should have had flowers. But alas none. They get a good annual temp shift from being near this uninsulated window. ???