Do all your phals spike at the same time?

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by mascia

Thank you for your reply!

I tried to find some more information and as I understood, phals that need a drop in temperature (pretty much all complex hybrids) will accumulate cooling hours, and spike once they achieve enough hours.

Some varieties probably need less hours than others, and I guess that's why they spike first. It also seems that hot temperatures after cooling has initiated will delay spiking, so that has to be taken in account as well, as I do get the occasional hot day even during winter.

I ran into this really interesting article while researching the subject, if anyone is interested:
How Temperature and Photoperiod Impact Orchid Spiking | Greenhouse Grower

I sort of agree with the article but I also sort of don't. Temperature does play a role, and can certainly have some influence on Phals spiking. I don't think, though, that the term "cool" is correct. "Cool" and "tropical plants" don't exactly go together. What they like is a period where the temperature at night is notably lower than during the day. If the daytime temperature is 90 then a drop to 75 at night, while still quite warm, is a good drop. Intentionally putting Phals in places where the temperature drops below 60 with the idea that it's going to cause the plant to initiate a spike is, in my experience, the wrong approach. You may see some issues with spiking if the daytime high is 75 and the nighttime low is 73, which is common in a house. As people, we don't like a lot of temperature change but Phals do.

Now, what I've just said there is based more on experience than science. Pretty much everything I say is, actually. When it's not based on more, uh, base elements. I'm sure you'll get other responses which disagree, just as you'll find published articles or books which disagree. It's like that with orchids. In the conditions I'm able to provide for my plants I see what happens, and so use that more than book-learning as a base. That's also what orchid book authors do (at least to an extent), so most of those books and articles are also slanted by the conditions and experience of the author. After another year with the plants you'll know.

[katrina]

Jkofferdahl is right about the temps. There are many spring/summer bloomers and since temps are on the rise during those seasons, it likely isn't lower night temps that triggers the spike. More likely an increase in daytime temps or "spring rains".

Once you've grown the phals for a couple of years you will begin to see a pattern. Even after a couple of years...you likely won't see specific times for flowering but rather "seasons".

[mascia]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

I sort of agree with the article but I also sort of don't. Temperature does play a role, and can certainly have some influence on Phals spiking. I don't think, though, that the term "cool" is correct. "Cool" and "tropical plants" don't exactly go together. What they like is a period where the temperature at night is notably lower than during the day. If the daytime temperature is 90 then a drop to 75 at night, while still quite warm, is a good drop. Intentionally putting Phals in places where the temperature drops below 60 with the idea that it's going to cause the plant to initiate a spike is, in my experience, the wrong approach. You may see some issues with spiking if the daytime high is 75 and the nighttime low is 73, which is common in a house. As people, we don't like a lot of temperature change but Phals do.

Now, what I've just said there is based more on experience than science. Pretty much everything I say is, actually. When it's not based on more, uh, base elements. I'm sure you'll get other responses which disagree, just as you'll find published articles or books which disagree. It's like that with orchids. In the conditions I'm able to provide for my plants I see what happens, and so use that more than book-learning as a base. That's also what orchid book authors do (at least to an extent), so most of those books and articles are also slanted by the conditions and experience of the author. After another year with the plants you'll know.

Yes, I guess "cool" is not the correct term here. They do not need low temperatures like a Den nobile, but it seems they do require a drop in the average temperature. I don't think the difference between day and night is required if the average temperature is lower.

This is just anectode, but I grow all my phals outside and during summer I have highs of 28/29 and lows of 22/23. That's a 6°C difference between day and night. Right now I'm getting 17/18°C at night and 24/25°C during the day, which is pretty much the same difference, but 5°C lower on average, and it was enough to initiate the spikes.

On the other hand, phals grown on the northeast coast of Brazil where temperatures are pretty much the same year-round do not ever spike. Their day/night difference is even higher than mine as their highs are higher, but that doesn't seem to matter.

I guess I'll learn more with experience. Thank you!

---------- Post added at 10:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 AM ----------

Originally Posted by katrina

Jkofferdahl is right about the temps. There are many spring/summer bloomers and since temps are on the rise during those seasons, it likely isn't lower night temps that triggers the spike. More likely an increase in daytime temps or "spring rains".

Once you've grown the phals for a couple of years you will begin to see a pattern. Even after a couple of years...you likely won't see specific times for flowering but rather "seasons".

Hi! I only started growing orchids myself last year, but I've been paying attention for a while and I don't think I've ever seen an "off season" one, except for the ones bought in stores, of course.

Here all complex hybrids will be in full bloom during spring, which means they spiked during fall/winter when temperature dropped. When I say 'all' I literally mean it, as there are lots of phals mounted here. Check my post from last year:
Phalaenopsis in bloom everywhere

The exceptions to this rule are the summer blooming species like the bellina or violacea. Those indeed will only bloom during summer/early fall, at least for me.

I think there might be a difference between phals grown on a temperate climate, where temperature has to be artificially controlled during several months of the year, and the ones grown on frost-free climates.

I noticed that a lot of information about them that I find online simply isn't true for me. I read more than once that they do not tolarate low temperatures and their buds will blast if night time lows reach 15°C or lower. We get night temperatures consistently below 15°C for at least 3 months of the year, and during cold spells it can get close to 5°C, but they all seem to be doing fine. I also see many phals getting 6 or more hours of sun everyday and looking good.

I guess that's what I love about them..together with dendrobiums and cattleyas they are almost impossible to kill!