Couple questions about blooming?

[greengarden]

Mine don't mind lower temps at night. Mine are all out under a patio getting full morning sun and stay out day and night. This is this weeks weather: Sanctuary Point weather - local weather forecast

I'll bring them in as we get towards our winter but for now they have been fine.

[Ordphien]

Agreed..
My phals happily live with our 40 degree nights in the house in winter.

But you may have just been referring to orchids in general

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[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Do not expose your phals at temperature 60 or 55. That is too cold for them and is not necessary at all!

I grow all my phal hybrids in my apartment (warm all year around and just a little cooler duing cold season but never lower than 70 or 65 if ever). Mine all bloom on time.
Slightly temperature drop than usual is the cue for phals to start making spikes.

By the way, I don't think the thread originator is only talking about phals but orchids.
That is too general, but many orchids will respond to day length and/or temperature change along with available water in blooming.
So you really have to find out wht orchid you are dealing with before taking actions.

With regard to phals in bloom being available year around is because commercial growers control temperature to manipulate flowering season. It is easy to do so with phals hence, they are always in the market no matter what time of the year it is.

Thank you! For now I am talking about Phals because that's all I have (at the moment). But that is good to know I guess I'll have to see if the lower temps near the window at night are good enough. Thanks!

[WhiteRabbit]

How long since this plant last bloomed?

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

How long since this plant last bloomed?

It belonged to a co-worker of mine before I got it. It was kept in an office environment, and I don't think it bloomed last summer, so the last time was the summer before last. I assume it didn't bloom last summer because the office was not enough light for the plant.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

It belonged to a co-worker of mine before I got it. It was kept in an office environment, and I don't think it bloomed last summer, so the last time was the summer before last. I assume it didn't bloom last summer because the office was not enough light for the plant.

I see. Yes, the office light was very likely insufficient. How long has it been getting better light?

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I see. Yes, the office light was very likely insufficient. How long has it been getting better light?

Probably about two weeks. I am a student so I only work two days a week. I mistakenly took dark green leaves to mean healthy plant. And it was shooting out roots like CRAZY so when I googled to find out why it wasn't blooming I learned the error of my ways. I have since brought it home, repotted it (the moss was ick) in some bark/charcoal/peat medium and it seems to be quite happy in the window with the rest of the plants now. The leaves have lightened up significantly but they're not that yellowish green that some sources recommend. But I have read that Phals tend to have darker leaves as is, so I'm not too concerned. The leaves have straightened up and gotten more crisp, so I assume the plant is happy. I would reallllly like to see its true flowers.

[WhiteRabbit]

Some have naturally dark green foliage. It needs some time with getting enough light before it's likely to bloom again - plants convert light into food, so it's been undernourished

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Some have naturally dark green foliage. It needs some time with getting enough light before it's likely to bloom again - plants convert light into food, so it's been undernourished

I have started to fertilize it weakly weekly also, will that help as well?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

I have started to fertilize it weakly weekly also, will that help as well?

It should be helpful