Phal Orchid Bud Questions

[BDOrchids]

I have multiple Phalaenopsis Orchids and all are blooming nicely except 1 or 2 that have dropped their flowers but leaf and root growth is perfect. However, one of my Phals that dropped their flowers already has two buds that havent done a thing since its last flower dropped about a month ago. Are the buds no good now on that flower stem or will they eventually bud out to blooms?

Specs:
Weekly fertilization with an Orchid Specific fertilizer
Medium Bark Subatrate
East Facing Indirect Light
New leaf and root growth
Weekly Watering
Mature Plant
Two Flower Stems both with a bud on each stem

Thanks for any help!!

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

You left out temperature information. At cooler temperatures the buds can sit there for quite a while before doing anything. Hope for the best!

[jkofferdahl]

As ES said, not knowing the temperature leaves a kind of big hole in information. In what condition are the remaining buds? Do they look plump and healthy still?

I have a few other questions and observations if I may. You say that you fertilize weekly. Do you use a dilute mix or do you use fertilizer at label strength? Also, do you water weekly on a routine, of do you find that after a week the media is dry? A Phal likes its medium to have short dry spells, and the roots need to always be able to breathe. An East-facing window is a good one for Phals. How close to the window are your plants? The amount of light drops dramatically as you move from a window, and our eyes adjust for it.

[BDOrchids]

Sorry about that guys, temps are around 72-76F during the day and about 68-70F at night with a humidity of about 50-60% most days. Im out in Texas so humidity is a given here.

I fertilize weekly to bi weekly depending on when I water, but it tends to veer on an 8-10 day cycle. I do let the medium dry out completely (not crispy bone dry) but if all the medium has dried out through the pots (i have clear pots) and I can see its dried out to the bottom I water. I definitely stay on the side of watering only when needed, and i fertilize when i water which is diluted down to 1pt fertilizer to 10pt water.

I keep them far enough away from the windows where theyd be considered in partial shade.

The buds are green and healthy, they look like buds do right before they plump up and then start growing into blooms. The stem is still healthy and hasnt dried out at all. Im thinking maybe more light but this particular phal and one other I rescued from going south. The blooms were already wilted from underwatering but I wanted to give them a chance since i knew they werent dead.

Anywho, there has been new leaf growth and plenty of root growth, the leaves are easily pushing 7+ inches and all my phals leaves grow upright, ive got a couple with almost 10+ inch leaves.

Do you think that a bit more sun or maybe some full spectrum lights would help?

Thanks again!

[estación seca]

So, you bought them in bud/flower, and these are just sitting there? I think it's temperature, and they will eventually open.

[BDOrchids]

Yeah, they were dropping the last of the blooms on them when i got them. We've had colder nights, some nights getting down to 40 so the room gets to the mid 60s but Im assuming when we warm up here soon things should pick up again?

[estación seca]

Yes. If you can keep them warmer rather than cooler they will be less likely to drop buds. Too frequent moving around can also cause bud drop. And don't let them go bone dry in bud.

[BDOrchids]

I keep shallow plates under my pots for drainage which keeps just enough water/fertilizer in the plate to keep from letting the. go bone dry, but I let the plates dry out so Im not drowning the bottom roots. Ive got a lot of healthy root growth so Im pretty confident Im watering just enough.

I havent moved them since I first placed them in thr house, and I have a back room that is fairly warm, in the 80s with very low ligbt though, should I give them some time back there and try to get some more light in there?

[estación seca]

I would leave them where they are now and just wait.

[BDOrchids]

Thanks ES, you've been a huge help!!

One other quick question. I have a small Phal that came in moss substrate and i didnt notice it was overwatered when i picked it up but it had rotten roots which i trimmed up and "unswamped" it and its begun growing very nice new roots, but obviously the roots are still on the smaller but thick side. Its dropped all but one of its leaves and I fear the last leaf will fall as well. Should I just keep maintaining it in its now healthy conditions and it will regrow or is it a lost cause?