Inherited orchid very stressed

[Unplant]

Anybody home? My question is ..will I ever see any blooms again?

[fishmom]

Yes. If the plant wants to bloom, it will send up another spike.

[aliceinwl]

It may not re-bloom for at least another year. To re-bloom the plant usually needs to be in good health and experience a period where the average temperature drops by 10 degrees for about 10 days.

I've been able to accomplish this by placing my plants on a window sill or keeping them mostly outside (my temps still get too low for most of my Phals to spend all winter outside). A lot of mine bloomed in early spring, but one just started sending up its spikes a couple of weeks ago. I think timing of reblooming probably depends a bit on the hybrid background of the individual plants.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It will rebloom without a doubt.

I don't think grafting will help it bloom.

Most Phals naturally bloom only once a year. Only a few are free flowering throughout the course of the year.

Your Phal looks like it could use a little bit more light. I know that some Phals naturally have dark leaves, but yours seem to be darker than normal.

[Unplant]

Thank you Phillip, Alice, fishmom!!

I was looking for a response but did not go to page two of the thread until now..

Thank you!

Well, when it started to show signs of blooming for the SECOND time this year, I was delighted and ecstatic !

It was heartbreaking to know that someone had broken the stem off of the plant, and it would not bloom after all.

I guess I will have to wait another year, unless. My "graft and prayer" works!

Thank you for the information about the leaves being a darker green when the plant has too little light. I had no idea.

Unfortunately, this is the only place I can place the plant.
I live in an apartment and my particular unit faces north
But the laundry room faces South, so that is where I have placed it. It is getting about ten degrees cooler at nights now. Things should be as optimum as possible.

Thank you for your kindness and informative answers!
Sincerely,
Unplant

[Dollythehun]

Have you considered buying a small grow light to supplement your north window?

[aliceinwl]

Sometimes north windows can work fine. My office window faces north but seems to get a lot of light reflected off the pavement outside and the Phals I have on that windowsill bloom like crazy. At home I have them in a north window too but without the reflection from the pavement, and they bloom, but the spikes are smaller. It might be safer in your north window while you consider supplemental lighting?

[Mountaineer370]

I agree that you should not discount your north-facing window just because it's north-facing. Some people make that work. It just depends on your particular circumstances.

If there's definitely not enough light there, consider Dolly's suggestion for a grow light. If you only have that one plant, you can get something small and attractive that looks pretty much like a regular lamp.

I don't think I could ever stop worrying about one of my orchids being left by itself in a public laundry room. If it came down to that being the only place I could put it, I would seriously think about rehoming it with someone I trusted and knew to have more favorable conditions.

[Dollythehun]

My thoughts exactly, Cheri.