Phal. Schilleriana

[EDDIE]

can anyone help me with a phal. schilleriana? I have had it for 3 yrs. now and it has only bloomed once (when I got it). It has 4 leaves and appears to be growing ok...I had been watering it weekly. I'm giving it more light now and letting it get a little drier. Thanks for any help!

Eddie

[kiki-do]

Generally what makes it spike for blooming is a drop in temperature at night from fall to early spring. Was that the case for your phal?
It literally forces them to spike.

[snow]

keep watering as before
lower night temps will make it spike eventually.
are you fertilizing at all?
that could be the culprit

[EDDIE]

Thanks for your help guys. Avg. night temps were probably around 65 F. After watering, I had been feeding it using a mixture of 1/4 tsp. schwartz expert orchid food (19-31-17) and 1 dropper of superthrive plant hormones in a gallon of water, I watered it once a week and placed it in an east window. Now I am watering about once a week, and it gets filtered sunlight from a south window. Should I stop the feeding altogether?

[quiltergal]

Many folks here fertilize at 125ppm of N. To reach 125ppm N for your formula you'd need to use 1/2 tsp/gal.

[EDDIE]

Thanks Terri,
I also forgot to mention...I switched to Growmore Orchid Food (20-10-20). This evening I placed it in my front room where it will get a little cooler...hopefully this will initiate bloom spikes!