How do wholesalers produce double spikes?

[SADE2020]

Bizarre and not necessary, but ...why not talk about it!

I really want to understand "how" they produce double spike and I mean in terms of substance and method.

[camille1585]

Commercial orchid/Phal nurseries have mastered the art and science of getting the plants to bloom when they want and with a high percentage of double spikes. There are 3 phases : vegetative, spike induction, finishing and each one has a specific range of temperatures and light intensity.

I remember reading an article about how growers can obtain high number of plants with double spikes, but I can't find it, I must have put it away in the wrong folder in my bookmarks. This article doesn't cover double spikes specifically, buth this is the cultivation guide of one of the largest commercial Phal nurseries in the Netherlands.
https://www.anthura.nl/wp-content/up...enopsis-EN.pdf

I like their website as they have some pretty good information about pests, diseases, climate control... and I find the articles to be very interesting.
Growing advice - Anthura

This other Dutch commercial nursery also explains some research done on spike induction, and includes an explanation on how a high percentage of double spikes are obtained (right combination of cooling temperature and light). I was very surprised that daylength also plays a role in Phalaenopsis spiking!

https://www.floricultura.com/media/3...-2016-2_en.pdf

[Shadeflower]

Most informative guides I have read all year.

The last article was written by someone who knows his stuff, thx camille

And second article all about thrips, horrible things. Still battling them here lol. Like the article says they are evolving to be more resistant

[Ray]

It's all about getting the plant to steadily accumulate resources, then give it the proper triggers for spike initiation.

One grower I know in Costa Rica kept phalaenopsis between 85°-90° constantly for 5 years; they grew and grew and grew. After giving them two weeks at 70°F, each plant threw at least a dozen spikes.

[Mr.Fakename]

I face the same problem Camille does: having way too many bookmarks all over the place (or maybe that's just me, let's keep it as 'issues with bookmarks').

I've read something about nurseries in Taiwan not long ago, and can't find the paper. But the surprising thing is that temperature reduction reportedly occurs during the day, and nights stay even.

If you take a look on researchgate.net, you can find plenty of studies about bloom induction in Phalaenopsis. Due to their importance in the horticultural world, every aspect from nutrition to influence of infrared light have been analyzed.

[SADE2020]

Oh, Camille. Thank you for sharing this information.

I have to admit I have reach blossoms tech with supermarket Phal by moving the plants to a cooler room, with a long dry period and playing with less light or fewer hours. But the double spike is the un-rechargeable goal... And I want one!!!

Going to read your articles!!!!!! Thanks

[Shadeflower]

SADE, you can always cheat a bit...

I never took a proper picture of this one, now it has already lost 3 flowers and another one fading but it was blooming from 4 flower spikes.

Arguably I have been caring for this one worst out of all my phals yet 4 flower spikes (even if they faded too soon!)
Purely genetics on this one.

Another good one is a P cornu-cervi I've heard that produces mutiple flowering spikes throughout the year.

[Roberta]

SF, that looks great. That section of Phalaenopsis is wonderful for reblooming... flowers may not be as big and grand as the "standard" Phals, but they just keep going! My Phal. cornu-cervi spikes keep popping out flowers for several years. And since in the meantime the plants produce MORE spikes sometimes one gets a lovely flush bloom. Phal hieroglyphica has similar behavior in that the spikes rebloom again and again, but typically only once or twice a year. So P. cornu-cervi is really special because it just keeps sending out new flowers. And I think it is probably one of the easiest to grow and bloom, too.

[tmoney]

those articles were quite interesting and informative, thanks for posting them. would love to get multiple spikes, but that info as well as a lot of guidance from folks here are helping us to get at least one going on some!

some of you probly recall recently me complaining about no flowers, and since i have done a bit of experimenting with our windows and doors to control temps and air flow. im really grateful and more confident that we are doing better things now. time will tell!

oh yeah, forgot my follow up question again: what do they mean with the early spikes forming around 40 weeks? i suppose on those species they should start a few weeks later? why is it bad if they start earlier? is that purely for commercial growth and sales, or is it worth it to try and push phal flowering till later in fall even for the home grower?

[Roberta]

The big commercial Phal growers work very hard to time the blooming quite precisely. The orchid that blooms a week before Mother's Day or Christmas is worth a lot more than one that blooms a week after. So they manipulate temperature (and probably light) so that, after shipping, their "crop" is at its presentable best at precisely the right time.

Just as aside, I knew an excellent local Cymbidium grower who decided that he could make more money in Phaenopsis. He bought a greenhouse, hired the previous owner to run it. He thought he was doing fine until he got his first request for an order - 1000 white Phalaenopsis each with one flower open. Well, he went into a business about which he knew nothing, and of course ended up bankrupt.

The successful wholesale nurseries know how to do it so that they really can have 1000, or thousands, of plants at just the right stage at the right time.