Need tips for Phalaenopsis Care

[JanieM]

Originally Posted by tarev

I do not know which part of Canada you are in, but looking at some prevailing temps on your environment canada website the overnight to early morning temps outside are getting way too cold for Phals.

I would just put it by a window to get some cool temps and close the window before your sleep.

Hey, if you have not repotted yet, you can certainly do it now. A chance to check the entire condition of the roots. So far what you are seeing on top, the velamen, the outer cover of the roots is like partly drying out. Not too bad yet, it happens, it is just the outer cover. Checking the rest of your roots below will be important.

Sometimes it may have a delayed spike season..maybe it will still rest this whole Fall to early winter..and will just go for it in Spring. On your side, you do have longer cool times..so lots of leeway for the Phal to go into its wake up mode later or a year after. Patience will be your friend.

Thanks so much for your advice! I really appreciate it! I'll get right on to repotting probably this weekend.

[NYCorchidman]

Phals take temperature change as a signal to get ready for flowering.
Your phal has old spikes.
Did you get it in bloom in the summer?

Commercial greenhouses control temperature to manipulate phals to spike anytime of the year, hence we can buy beautiful phals in bloom anytime of the year.

Usually, phals will bloom from mid winter into spring time.
When you buy phals that are in bloom at "odd" time of the year like yours, summer time, it needs some time to adjust to its new environment.

I have bought phals in bloom in the summer, and almost none of them spiked again in the fall of the same year but many of them bloomed from old spikes (I do not cut off spikes unless they turn brown and die on their own).

Your phal will most likely wait until the fall of next year to spike and bloom. From that point on, it will spike in the fall each year.

Regarding the light, you did a good thing by moving it to a brighter location.
North window works as long as the window is large so there is a lot of light coming in and there are no buidlings or trees outside the window blocking the light.
With higher light and phals are no way low light plants, the blooming performance will be enhanced greatly.

Now, regarding watering, you don't just water every 7 or 10 days. You have to find out how long it takes for your pot to dry out to water it again. Only then you can have a good idea of how often to water a certain plant of certain pot size in your growing conditions.

If your phal came in a clear plastic pot, you can easily see how dry the pot is inside.
Water copiously or I like to soak to save water and to let the plant drink up as much as it likes.
Let the pot to dry out before watering again.

[JanieM]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Phals take temperature change as a signal to get ready for flowering.
Your phal has old spikes.
Did you get it in bloom in the summer?

Commercial greenhouses control temperature to manipulate phals to spike anytime of the year, hence we can buy beautiful phals in bloom anytime of the year.

Usually, phals will bloom from mid winter into spring time.
When you buy phals that are in bloom at "odd" time of the year like yours, summer time, it needs some time to adjust to its new environment.

I have bought phals in bloom in the summer, and almost none of them spiked again in the fall of the same year but many of them bloomed from old spikes (I do not cut off spikes unless they turn brown and die on their own).

Your phal will most likely wait until the fall of next year to spike and bloom. From that point on, it will spike in the fall each year.

Regarding the light, you did a good thing by moving it to a brighter location.
North window works as long as the window is large so there is a lot of light coming in and there are no buidlings or trees outside the window blocking the light.
With higher light and phals are no way low light plants, the blooming performance will be enhanced greatly.

Now, regarding watering, you don't just water every 7 or 10 days. You have to find out how long it takes for your pot to dry out to water it again. Only then you can have a good idea of how often to water a certain plant of certain pot size in your growing conditions.

If your phal came in a clear plastic pot, you can easily see how dry the pot is inside.
Water copiously or I like to soak to save water and to let the plant drink up as much as it likes.
Let the pot to dry out before watering again.

Hmm.. erm well I thought I got it in bloom in the summer, however I'm pretty sure after some re-thinking that I got it in bloom in January/February and the flowers fell off during the summer.
And I know, I'm trying to be patient, but sometimes it's so darn difficult! Like- I just get so excited whenever I think about my Phal blooming again.
And by the way, thank you for letting me know if the lighting was okay. Oh my gosh, I was so uncertain about it for so long. And now that the days are getting shorter over here, and my Phal isn't getting as much light as it used to, I've become even more nervous, but you definitely cleared that up for me.
I do have it in a plastic pot, so I will check for that when watering and well,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ADVICE My Phal will forever be grateful!

[JanieM]

I've got another question!
I know that ripening fruit and aperantly stoves can cause bud blast. (Well stoves or something about fossil fuels and smoke) My Phal isn't blooming yet but is located beside a kitchen where it is about 3 meters (10 feet & 6 1/2 inches) from the fruit bowl (where I usually have bananas & apples) and it is about 91 cm (3 feet) from a stove. Should I be worried about this in the future?