2 New Leaves but No Flowers - Orchid Board

Sharonalexandra · #1 07-09-2013, 12:53 PM

Hello,
I got my orchid in November 2012, and thanks to the help on this board was able to fix it up/ prevent it from dying. All the flowers fell off in December, and it has still not grown in new ones. I have left the previous stem in place. It has grown 1 new leaf and is starting to grow a second new leaf now. I have it indoors in moderate light. I was just wondering when I can expect it to grow flowers again?
ps. I repotted it back in December and was wondering if I need to repot at certain intervals, or if I only repot if there is an issue with the medium it is in now.
Thanks for your help!

Bud · #2 07-09-2013, 02:54 PM

if you can post pictures for us to be able to help you better....usually it is best to repot every two years or if the medium is decayed or the roots are coming out of the pot....better cut the spike(stem you said) the two new leaves are telling you that it is gathering enough energy for the next bloom cycle....this is the warm summer months and the plant is in its growth mode=feed it with fertilizer weekly weakly and water it liberally=if you can let it outdoors in a shaded or dappled light...when it gets cooler there might appear spikes for new blooms.

SlipperGirl · #3 07-09-2013, 03:48 PM

I am guessing you have a phal, if it is this is the time when a lot of phals will be growing new leaves and roots, the plant should bloom in fall or winter when the temps get cooler.

WhiteRabbit · #4 07-09-2013, 09:37 PM

Many orchids bloom seasonally. A few months without re-spiking is not unusual at all.

How much light does it get? Us ut growing on a windowsill?

It is generally recommended to replace bark mix every 2-3 years, if you haven't needed to repot before that for another reason.

Sphagnum moss should be replaced annually.

Calbears · #5 07-09-2013, 11:55 PM

It sounds like you've got a phalaenopsis. In my limited experience they grow their flower spike in the fall once the night time temperatures drop. The flowers are present winter through early spring. I've seen other phals on this forum that seem to bloom repeatedly or at random times, I haven't been so lucky.

I'd recommend cutting the spike as close to the base of the plant as possible. Cool temps cue phals to flower, but if they don't receive adequate light this summer, it may not bloom.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 07-10-2013, 12:14 AM

Most Phals usually bloom seasonally. They usually either bloom once or twice a year. There are a few exceptions, where Phals can bloom rather randomly throughout the course of the year, but don't expect this - it is not the norm!

Most of the times, Phals have been forced to bloom out of season by nurseries that sell Phals so that they can have Phals available for sale at any given time of the year. They can do this because they know what kinds of environmental factors trigger a blooming response. They also have a large number of Phals to rotate around, so that they don't exhaust the plant's energy. It is not an accident that Phals can be seen for sale in bloom for what seems like all year round, when in reality, they are mostly seasonal bloomers.

Sharonalexandra · #7 07-11-2013, 03:54 PM

Thanks for the help everyone! I'm posting a pic of the base of the plant. You can see the newest leaf is well on its way.
Right now i keep the phal on a table that is maybe 1 -2 feet from a west facing window that has sheer window coverings, so it gets a decent amount of light.
When i cut back the spike, should I just try to cut it as close to the base as possible and thats it?

SlipperGirl · #8 07-11-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharonalexandra

Thanks for the help everyone! I'm posting a pic of the base of the plant. You can see the newest leaf is well on its way.
Right now i keep the phal on a table that is maybe 1 -2 feet from a west facing window that has sheer window coverings, so it gets a decent amount of light.
When i cut back the spike, should I just try to cut it as close to the base as possible and thats it?

Yes cute the spike as close to the base as you can, I like to put cinnamon where I cut it.

I see that your plant has water all over it you may want to wipe it off

AnonYMouse · #9 07-11-2013, 05:25 PM

It may be the lighting but the older leaves don't look good. The color looks yellow-brownish and they look floppy.

Sharonalexandra · #10 07-12-2013, 12:31 AM

I think that's the lighting from the camera. The leaves on top are pretty green and fairly firm. They are a little floppy though. There is one leaf at the very bottom that is yellowish. What is this caused from / how should I fix this?!
Ps. I really appreciate all the replies and help! I want to make sure I keep this little guy alive!