Beginner question: what to do to help the blooming process?

[mmreich]

I have cared for houseplants for many years but am new to orchids. I received one a couple of years ago, and after its blooms fell off, I continued to water it weekly. A couple of months ago, it started to show signs of blooming, but it looks like some of the buds stopped after a certain point.

The pictures show some of the buds looking active and others looking dried up. I'm wondering what actions I can take to help make sure that the buds bloom to completion. I am in zone 10a, southern California. I haven't yet fertilized, repotted, or done anything other than watering it.

Thanks for your help!

[rbarata]

Welcome mmreich.

No photos in your post.

[mmreich]

Thanks for the quick reply - I've fixed the upload error and you should be able to see the images.

Originally Posted by rbarata

Welcome mmreich.

No photos in your post.

[Orchid Whisperer]

That looks like the old previously bloomed spike. Cut off just below where the last bud was attached to the stem. A side shoot (spike) could form off the old stem. Or it could bloom from the base of the plant.

If you post a good photo of the rest of the plant, we may be better able to assess the plant's health.

Often a plant that seems ok but will not bloom needs more light. If you increase light, do so very gradually. Also, some Phalaenopsis need a 10 degree F drop in temperature to signal blooming.

[rbarata]

Now I can see the photos...but I don't see any blooms, except on the second photo. There are two tiny blooms from which I would not expect too much.
The flower spikes in the photos already bloomed. Each "node" seems to be the "scars" where the once existing blooms were connect to the spike.
But don't cut them while they are green 'cause many phals (your orchid is a Phalaenopsis, aka Phal) have the ability to bloom from old spikes. Some of mine are still blooming from 3 years old spikes.
It would be really helpfull to see photos of the whole plant, the pot and the medium inside of it. This is important so that we can have an idea of the gneral growing conditions.

[mmreich]

Thanks for these comments - here are a few more pictures of the entire plant. Sorry for the orientation - the upload software is modifying the originals..

I appreciate any thoughts as to the health of the plant and how to help it bloom.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

The plant looks very healthy. With proper care it should bloom in season.

This kind of hybrid Phal normally blooms once per year. Flowers can last for some months, so it is normally a long show.

They begin spikes in mid to late winter, and flower late winter to late spring. You will need to continue giving it good care until early 2019 to see flowers from it.

There is another kind of Phal that tends to bloom in summer. They have somewhat smaller flowers, often more star-shaped and fragrant, normally borne one to few at a time, and the color range is different. This kind of Phal also requires warmer temperatures; not below 65 F / 18C in winter.

There is a good thread here on learning to grow hybrid Phals of the kind you have. From the left yellow menu click on Forums, then Beginners, then look near the top for the sticky thread The Phal abuse ends here.