Phal problems

[Salix]

Okay, no one laugh, but I've had issues getting my Phals to rebloom. I can get a spike, but only one flower per spike. Is there some trick to getting long, full spikes?
Help me!
~Kitty

[Ghosthunt64]

I don't have much experience with Phals, but my guess is that it wants more fertilizer.

[Phal grower]

How do the leaves look? Maybe more light.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

!!! (jk , )

Wanted to lighten up the mood a bit before I started.

1. We need more info.

- What kind of Phal is it? This answer makes a HUGE difference. Some Phals can bloom just one at a time and be absolutely fine. For other Phals, one flower per spike is an issue to consider.

- What are the temperatures during the day and during the night?

- What are the seasonal temperatures throughout the year where you live?

- What kind of light is the orchid receiving?

- What amount of light is the orchid receiving?

- What is the humidity of the growing area?

- How often do you water?

- How often do you fertilize?

- What is the concentration of fertilizer you use?

- What kind of fertilizer do you use?

- What is the N-P-K ratio of the fertilizer you're using?

- What is the potting media being used to grow the Phal?

- How are the roots doing? Did you do a thorough check of the roots, not just glance at it quickly and tell everybody that they're ok based on the condition of the roots you can readily see? What about the roots you can't readily see, are they doing ok?

- Do you have a pic you can post?

- How long have you had this orchid for?

2. Answer all the questions, and your question will be answered. Everything I asked, if answered honestly, will lead you in the right direction in how to properly diagnose your problem. I suspect a few things, but I want to be sure that they really are the cause and not something else.

I suspect that the problem is related with the way you're cultivating your Phal, and is not necessarily caused by any kind of oddball pathogenic microorganism.

[Brooke]

How long is your spike?

Perhaps your Phal is from species that keep their spikes for several years. This type usually only has one or two blooms per spike and the WOW factor occurs when you have multiple spikes blooming.

Brooke

[Salix]

Originally Posted by brooke

How long is your spike?

Perhaps your Phal is from species that keep their spikes for several years. This type usually only has one or two blooms per spike and the WOW factor occurs when you have multiple spikes blooming.

Brooke

My spikes are about 6-8 inches long. They have a tiny bud at the end, it doesn't die, but they never mature until the old flower dies.

[Bobits]

I am interested to see what king orchid has to say when all the required info is posted... I have had a similar issue with my Phal in that its bloomed several times for me but never more than 3-5 flowers per spike. When I bought it, it was in bloom with many more than that.... Awaiting the knowledge of my fellow orchid lovers :-)

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Bobits

I am interested to see what king orchid has to say when all the required info is posted... I have had a similar issue with my Phal in that its bloomed several times for me but never more than 3-5 flowers per spike. When I bought it, it was in bloom with many more than that.... Awaiting the knowledge of my fellow orchid lovers :-)

For you, it's the same batch of questions.

With the more important questions being:

1. Do you have a pic or your plant that you can post?

2. What is it?

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Bobits

I am interested to see what king orchid has to say when all the required info is posted... I have had a similar issue with my Phal in that its bloomed several times for me but never more than 3-5 flowers per spike. When I bought it, it was in bloom with many more than that.... Awaiting the knowledge of my fellow orchid lovers :-)

One of the issues with plants is that the answer for one does not mean it's the answer for another. That's why we don't try and stop people asking questions that have been asked before as some forums do. Even if you've read the responses to other people it's easy to be unsure if the same applies to your problem, and even if you think it does it might not.

Is that the joy and the fun... or the pain and frustration of growing orchids

[james mickelso]

Phals are a huge species (?) with thousands of members with different flowering habits, number pof leaves, size, number of flowers per spike (inflorescence), light requirements, moisture requirements, temperature preferences, ect, ect, ect(The King and I). the number of flowers pert spike is different depending on whether it is a primary spike or a secondary spike. Here are a couple pics of flowering phals. Each one is different and so flowers differently. One is a flowering from a secondary spike which on the primary has about a dozen flowers. The Red one is all this variety produces from a primary spike. The big long spike just starting to grow has about 20 flowers per spike. They are all just different varieties of phal. Cultural variations make a big difference. I think the biggest difference. Pictures please. We love pictures (The last one is just because the sunlight on it made it worthy of adding it here).