Light for phal type dendrobium.

[wgama]

I have a couple noid phal type dendrobium that ive collected over the years and I have never been able to rebloom any of them... I think it might be a light issue. the leaves are fairly dark green. How bright of light do you grow yours in? Sohuld they be with my Catts. or my phals? Or somewhere in between?

[RosieC]

I agree it could be a light issue, but unfortunately I don't know how much you need.

Mine showed no sign of flowering in my west facing window. Near the end of the summer I put it outside in full sunlight (moving it slowly to brighter light to make sure it did not burn) and within a couple of days it was growing a flower spike.

Of course different places have different strengths of light and I didn't measure what we were getting. But I certainly found that it needed more than was coming through the window (remember that even clear glass will significantly affect the light levels).

[wgama]

Okay thanks Rosie. I'll try brighter light.

[RosieC]

I should also that that it had a mature cane which had never flowered. These flower on new mature canes so you need to have it at the right phase of growth as well.

[slipperfreak]

What I'll tell you is that I never had any success with flowering Dendrobiums until I started growing them cooler and drier in the winter. I grow them as cool as possible, with temps that can dip to 13C at night, and I only water enough to keep the pseudobulbs from shrivelling, about once every 2 weeks or so.

Having said that, most Dendrobiums (including Phal types) enjoy high Cattleya-like light. So if you are growing in lower light than that, it may be an issue.

[RosieC]

My understanding is that generally the Phal type Dens don't need to go as cold or as dormant as some of the other den types.

I water just the same in winter, although the temps do natuarally drop in my house (probably arround 15C at night).

Dens like the nobile types start to form flowers buds after a dormant period and need that dormancy to flower. I think (I'm not an expert but from what I've read) that Den Phal hybrids flower at the end of the summer on the new growth from the spring.

All I can say for certain is that my Den Phal hybrid started a new growth this time last year, the cane grew and grew through the year but by August had terminated with no sign of flowers.

I put it outside in late September in full sunlight after someone else from the UK said their's had been out in the summer sun. The flower spike was just starting within a week out the top of the new cane.

I now have another two of these and I will have to see if I can get them to flower next year. One of them already has a new cane forming.

[slipperfreak]

Yes Phal types are *supposed* to be easier to flower than other Den types, but I always had better experiences with nobile types. I don't even grow Phal types any more because they were so disappointing for me.

And yes, Phal types are also supposed to flower in the summer time. But rarely do I get a plant that actually behaves the way it is supposed to naturally. They get confused about the seasons, even when I try to eliminate the confusion. Phal types used to flower in the winter and early spring for me all the time.

[RosieC]

Yeah, orchids grown indoors generally get confused.

From what I've read the big difference between phal types and nobile types is that nobile types grow new canes and then after a dormant period flower on the previous years growths. The phal types grow new canes and flower on them without/before any dormant period.

I've only got experience from reblooming one phal type and from all the information I was given when trying to get it to flower, so maybe someone else will have more experience with these.

[slipperfreak]

You are correct - nobile types flower on both new and old canes, after dormancy. They must be kept very cool and dry to flower, or they will produce only keikis. Phal types flower on mature growths and do not flower on old canes. Nobile types are also deciduous and Phal types are evergreen for a few seasons. I found that, like with most any orchid, a cool down helps to trigger blooming. But that's just me.

[wgama]

The cane is mature, its starting a new growth, so Idon't know... Ill put it with my catts. adn see what happens.