How to force Fdk. After Dark Blooms?

[Tim P.]

Good evening everyone...

It is that time of year again... the orchids on my windowsill tell me it is fall by the loss of their leaves, whether I like it or not

Anyway, I am concerned. I purchased an Fdk. After Dark 'Black Pearl', and two other after darks that are not named in the past year. Two of them are now leafless for a week or two, but no signs of a spike! I know my black pearl is large enough to bloom as it has five full sized p-bulbs, and the other two have 2 pbulbs, and were said to have bloomed before.

Have I done something wrong? Have I missed the boat to get my yearly quota of spikes? I have read many places that say that they send out spikes before they lose their leaves.... gosh. Hope someone can give me some straight answers! My black pearl is my all time favorite orchid! last year it was a showstopper with three spikes!

[Nepenthesguy]

Orchids tend to do what they want, and sometimes they just want to be a diva and not bloom to test you! Mine know I'd never bring myself to toss them for not blooming so they do whatever the hell they want

Other member who grow these guys will be able tell you if any conditions weren't met or if you just need to be patient

[isurus79]

Yep, you need to be patient. These guys drop their leaves and bloom when they want, for whatever reason they want. There's no way to force blooms in this group. You can reasonably get blooms until the new growth starts in spring, so you haven't completely missed the boat either.

[katrina]

Ditto Steve's comments. This group luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuvs to surprise us.

[euplusia]

In my experience it is not recommendable to force an orchid to bloom, and in the Mormodes alliance it is also not necessary, as these plants are very willing to bloom. All you can do is to feed them well while in active growth.
What you may heed is the virtue of an orchid grower: patience.
They may flower during the rest period, or whenever the time has come.

[Subrosa]

Consider yourself lucky! All of my Cats, including my Black Pearl are still fully leafed out. They're outside here in zone 6b. The leaves are the same "we don't need all this chlorophyll yellow" that they've been all season. I'm hoping they lose their leaves before it gets too cold to keep them outside, because I have very limited space with enough light for them inside.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Consider yourself lucky! All of my Cats, including my Black Pearl are still fully leafed out. They're outside here in zone 6b. The leaves are the same "we don't need all this chlorophyll yellow" that they've been all season. I'm hoping they lose their leaves before it gets too cold to keep them outside, because I have very limited space with enough light for them inside.

If the leaves are yellow, you can cut them off to bring them inside. It won't harm the plant.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Consider yourself lucky! All of my Cats, including my Black Pearl are still fully leafed out. They're outside here in zone 6b. The leaves are the same "we don't need all this chlorophyll yellow" that they've been all season. I'm hoping they lose their leaves before it gets too cold to keep them outside, because I have very limited space with enough light for them inside.

mine too, including a millenium magic and 2 macroglossum. And they are indoors......I know all about a space problem !
I have 1 (now 2 ) Fdk After Dark 'sunset valley' that only started blooming in Dec of last year, so there is still time.

[Tim P.]

Thanks for the hope! They still are sitting there like bumps on a log. I'm being patient

[NYCorchidman]

I don't think you can force them to bloom like tulip bulbs.
Once they finish growing, they will bloom anytime with or without leaves. As others say, they can wait until spring and then bloom. sometime more than one spike will pop out. so all you can do at this point is just to wait and see.

hope you get some good flowers to reward you.