Orchid hasn't spiked in a few years!

[lotis146]

You said your other Phal has spiked and bloomed? What's different about how you've been caring for that one - all the way around - or did you get it in spike?

I have a mini Phal since 2008 that has never spiked since I first received it as a gift. It's gone through various bouts of dehydration (wrinkled/limp leaves) and about 6 months ago I repotted it, well I wound up doing so twice. This was the first time in all these years I've done this (didn't know any better until I came here earlier this year). I discovered that it had a really crappy root system and have been trying to nurture it back to help since. It's grown some new roots and recently a new leaf.

Looking back I'm lucky I managed to keep it alive, and I think I just barely did so. It sat next to a south window in the kitchen whose blinds mostly stayed closed in my old house, so it was kept VERY shaded. Also it was always potted in moss in a 1-2" clay pot and I would only water when the moss was so dry I could take it all out as a unit if you will. Then I would drench the pot until the moss absorbed all it could and dump out any excess. Being that it was next to this window it did experience a temperature fluctuation in the fall/winter. So while I know this definitely matters, you have to look at your methods for care as a whole. I think my plant needed more light, more frequent watering, and a repot much sooner than 5.5 years later!

Just my experience...still watching it closely...oh and before I never fertilized...now I do...

[alisanoel]

Hmm I did notice that this orchid in particular had a lot of root rot that I was unaware of until I repotted it. The one that spiked did seem to have much healthier roots. It was in moss which I think caused the rot and now it is just in the orchid bark and seems to be doing much better root wise. I need to up the watering but hopefully once a new healthy root system grows then it will be encouraged to spike.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Root problems can cause the plant to not want to throw out a spike.

Root health is vital to a plant.

[alisanoel]

Alright, thanks for the information! Hopefully now that it has more healthy roots it'll be encouraged to spike now!

[silken]

By giving it cooler temps for a few weeks in the fall you will likely increase the odds of it spiking considerably. Some maybe need this cool period more than others, based on their parentage. With new healthier roots and a chill in the fall, you should see blooms next spring.

[james mickelso]

Put it in a dark location for a week, and then put it back where it was. Phals respond to a dark period and then bloom. Cooling it down significantly doesn't work that well. My phals flpowerr regardless of the temp differences. What ratio of N to PK does your fertilizer have? If the nitrogen is high compared to the phosphorus/potassium thenm that may be your trouble. Try putting it in a dark location like an interior room for a week. Then place it back IN IT'S NORMAL SPOT. bET IT FLOWERS IN A FEW WEEKS AFTER THAT.