Phalaenopsis Winter Watering

[notsogreenthumb]

After a failed blooming cycle I removed my Phal from moss and repotted with a medium bark mixture and discovered quite a deterioration of roots in the proccess. While a healthy bloom spike never redeveloped after the old one partially budded and then after dropping it's immature buds the spike withered, the Phal continued to flourish in its new pot and has grown a healthy new leaf and seemd to be growing new roots as well.

After receiving some advice on the forum I've been watering during the growth of the leaf with a 20-20-20, at about half strength and the plant seems to love this and doing so about once a week by placing the planter in a bowl and pour the water into the bowl, counting to about 15 and then letting the plant drain.

I just moved too Vancouver, BC in the northern hemisphere and I've got my plant in a North Facing window.

My question after all that, is do I continue to water once a week all winter and do I fertilize?

I was just reading on a couple orchid care websites that I should fertilize all year round and rinse once a month.
Now that I've got bark in the pot I'm just not sure how often will be sufficient for watering during the cooler dreary months. During the winters, before, the moss would stay moist for weeks sometimes.

Please Advise

Dustin

[WhiteRabbit]

I water and fertilize mine "normally" year-round. But, with cooler, damper weather in winter, watering is less frequent.

Of course, indoors with heat going a lot keeps the air bith warmer and dryer, so you may need to water as much as during warm weather.

[Island Girl]

I'm thinking that the north-facing window that your phal is sitting in, is not bright enough for it to re-bloom... It would probably flower for you if you had it in a south, or an east facing window. Just be sure that it doesn't get direct sunlight - especially in the middle of the day - (very early morning, or late afternoon, is ok if it gets a little direct light, but no more than that). If there is direct sunlight other than those times, in the middle of the day, try hanging a sheer curtain in front of your phal, that will help it not to burn. Remember, when moving an orchid to a brighter spot, you want to gradually do so, otherwise, it could get sunburn.

As for winter watering, I agree with what WhiteRabbit said, generally you would water less given that there is less light, and cooler temps, but she made a good point about the heat being on, so it really just depends on your environment. Water when the pot feels light (pick up the pot after watering, so you get an idea of what it weighs when it's wet), and look up the "skewer method" it will help you to learn when it's time to water your phal.

[NYCorchidman]

Orchids usually suffer a little bit when moved from moss to straight bark because bark is much more open and hence drier. The shock can be reduced of course by good watering until plants grow new roots.


I grew one large white phal in north facing window, a large bay window with nothing blocking my building, so it was a bright enough.
The plant had never more than 3 or 4 flowers each time.
Then I moved the plant to south exposure and bam!
the following spring, I had 8 flowers!!!

The light makes a whole world of difference as far as flowering is concerned.

and don't get stressed out much about fertilizing. less is more. You'll do more harm than good. Trust me.
I do not water that often and things still grow and flower like crazy for me.
I think I fertilize when I feel like it.
I try and fertilize at least once a month while plants are in active growth mode.
I like to water so I water a lot.
so every week fertilizing and leaching out on the fourth watering may work but may also burn the roots and cause overfertilization, which can impede flowering all together.
I think watering, watering, watering, and then fertilizing on the fourth watering is safer while still yielding great results.

Happy growing!