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

[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?

[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).

[Bobits]

Originally Posted by 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.

Not sure what type of Phal. Here is a photo of last bloom approximately July 2012:



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

Day is 21; night is 21

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

Does this matter? Plant is inside? I live in southern Ontario. November through February -- anywhere from minus 20 to plus 15; summer is July / August anywhere from 10 to 35... Lol -- that's Canada for you... Spring and fall are more temperate.

- What kind of light is the orchid receiving?

SE facing window currently. Used to be in a east facing window when it flowered.

- What amount of light is the orchid receiving?

Full (no curtains or sheers).

- What is the humidity of the growing area?

Relatively dry (electric heat in winter; air conditioner on summer).

- How often do you water.

Used to water weekly (Drench and allow to drain). Repotted in the fall and almost lost plant due to root loss before learning that new bark dries out faster so started using skewer method). Plant lost two leaves and now is looking better again. New root growth seen.



- How often do you fertilize?

Once per month.

- What is the concentration of fertilizer you use?

19-31-17 Schultz orchid food 1/8 tsp to about I Litre water

- 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?

Bark

- 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?

Better now (see above)

- Do you have a pic you can post?

- How long have you had this orchid for?

2-3 years

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.

Answer embedded in quote...

[Salix]

1. I should have given more info.

- Sogo yukidian, Green apple, Purple diamond, and Fuller sunset are the variety names. All pretty basic.

- Day temperatures range in the upper 70's to low 80's, and night temperatures range from upper 50's to low/mid 60's.

- Seasonal temperatures? It gets in the upper 80's to mid 90's here in the day. we've had "cold" nights though, in the 60's this year. Mild last winter. Very mild.

- Sunlight, no grow lights. It's in an east facing window. Very bright light throughout most of the day. I'd estimate from about 6:45AM to 1 PM if you want that specific.

- What amount of light is the orchid receiving? I honestly have no way to measure.

- What is the humidity of the growing area? High. 50-70% on average.

- How often do you water? Daily misting, weekly-every other week watering, depending on how the mediums dry out.

- How often do you fertilize? monthly/twice monthly

- What is the concentration of fertilizer you use? 1/4-1/8 strength, depending on frequency.

- What kind of fertilizer do you use? Growmore Urea free orchid food, water soluble.

- What is the N-P-K ratio of the fertilizer you're using? 20-10-20

- What is the potting media being used to grow the Phal? coarsely ground lava rock and fir bark for one, sphagnum peat moss for another, and a few bare root.

- How are the roots doing? I have checked for rot, and haven't found any. Most of the roots are bright green (if they're inside the media) and the surface ones are thick and silver (minus one of the bare root ones who is slightly shrivled. I think he's the Fuller sunset)

- Do you have a pic you can post? I do not. I will try and get some pics up if this detailed questionnaire doesn't turn up any results.

- How long have you had this orchid for? I've had them for 4 months.

Thank you all for taking the time to help me!
~Kitty

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