Phalaenopsis leaf growth

[KittyKat]

So.. my Phalaenopsis is almost done flowering and has started growing new leaves. What is the best way to encourage the leaf growth? At the moment it is in indirect, but bright, sunlight most of the day. I usually water it a little bit every week and soak it once a month or so.

(Some photos when flowering: )

[RosieC]

Hi KittyKat,

Your orchid has wonderful colours, it's a really fantastic one. Do you know what hybrid/species it is?

Anyway I find most of my Phals grow both roots and leaves as the weather gets warmer. Mine are showing signs of root growth just now and I'm expecting them to start growing leaves soonish.

Are you using fertiliser? If not a fertiliser may help. I can never remember the balance people advise for promoting growth. I get on well with this one...

Chempak Orchid Growth Formula High Nitrogen Food 250ml

... but I don't know if you can get that where you are as it is a UK company.

[mehitabel]

My guess is your phals can handle more light than they are getting. How far from the window is "indirect"?

More light, more water, more fertilizer, more air = more growth. But you have to keep these factors balanced-- ie don't increase one without increasing the others.

You can increase the light gradually by moving your plants 6" or so closer to the windows every couple of days to get them acclimated. This will also increase the warmth.

Feel the leaves to make sure they are not warm when the sun is on them. Just keep moving your plants closer to the window til you reach the point where the leaves are warm.

Then you can either move them back 6", or turn a fan on the leaves. Either one will cool the leaves.

[KittyKat]

I did ask for an ID on this orchid a while back and the best we were able to come up with was that it may be a P. stuartiana hybrid with possibly Paifang's Queen.

I do not use fertiliser, but I am using water from my Amazonian aquarium filter most of the time for watering: it is soft and nutrient rich (a good general fertilizer, I find). Both my parents and in-laws are in UK and visit regularly, so getting the fertiliser won't be a problem.

It is about 2ft from the window, but I can't get it any closer as there are no windowsills. On warm days (18C+ in the shade), it goes out onto the balcony which is level with the window. It gets direct morning sunlight between 7am and 8am on cooler days (indoors) and 7am to 9am on warm days (outdoors). Even with the morning light, the leaves always feel cool (I wipe them every other day to get the dust off). The alternative to this spot is other side of the house where there is direct sunlight between 1pm and 6pm.. would this be too much?

Thanks for the help! Any other advice would be very welcome

[greenbean]

Sounds like your lighting is good to me. Direct sun between 1pm and 6pm would very likely be too intense. Especially between 1pm and 3-4pm in the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its hottest and direct exposure would probably burn a phal to a crisp.

From what I've read and experienced with my one phal (a number that will be increasing rapidly this summer) warmth is the key to rapid growth. Although as mehitabel said, conditions should remain balanced.

[jkofferdahl]

Your Phal can most likely take a bit more sunlight, so long as it doesn't get direct sun in the afternoon. Remember, light drops dramatically in just a few inches from a window. Phals root best with good humidity, too. You don't want the roots to stay wet but you do want them in enough humidity that they don't over-dry, which will stop their growth. As the leaf growth begins, it is OK to water them a bit more. Fertilize with a good orchid blend balanced for the medium in which you grow. For example, in bark mixes Phals need more nitrogen, because bark tends to absorb nitrogen. In sphagnum a balanced blend is fine. If you use osmunda, very little fertilizer is needed because as it breaks down it feeds. I follow the fertilize weekly, weakly theory, cutting the mix to about 25% of the label directive.

[KittyKat]

New leaf is doubling in size on a daily basis at the moment.

I had a look at the compost, and it is a 35% moss (60% of that is live, 40% is dead) and 65% relatively fine bark/coconut husk so holds moisture well. There is condensation on the sides of the pot, but the top 5mm is dry.

jkofferdahl, thanks for the pointer! That would explain why the fish water has always worked so well for me: all the orchids I have ever owned were in 100% bark previously to this one and the water from the fish tanks is very high in nitrogen compounds.

Is the principle for fertilising Oncidiums the same?

[quiltergal]

Just be aware Kitty that too much nitrogen on a regular basis can inhibit blooming. I'm not sure how you would be able to tell how much N was in the fish water at any given watering.

[KittyKat]

Oh, that's easy: it is very important to keep the water within certain parameters (depending on the species) which includes nitrogens, as some species can be very sensitive to them. So... liquid or paper "tests" are available for testing the water to determine how much of what is in it. They work a bit like universal indicator for testing pH does (which you probably came across when you were in school), but slightly more complicated. After the water is tested, it is very easy to adjust it to one's desired specifications.

Thank you for the warning about the flowering! I was going to ask on what changes I would need to apply to my fertilising closer to the time, but as you brought it up.. would anyone be able to tell me how I need to change the fertilising and when to encourage flowering?

[brush]

In my experiences over the years with phalaenopsis , I have created a watering regiman for them , based on a four week cycle .

Whenever I buy a phal , I usually water with plain water after bringing it home . Provided it needs water , but not just water right out of the tap . They dislike chlorine and like room temperature water .

I have water jugs I use especially to hold my water for phals , that have been sitting for a couple of days so any trace chlorine will evaporate from it .

The second week of watering my phals , ( I usually water every 10 -14 days , depending on the temps of the house . I will use a high nitrogen fertilizer , 19-31-17 .

The third time of watering is just plain water , to flush out any minerals of the previous watering so minerals don't build up .

The fourth time watering is a high phosphorous fertilizer , 10-60-10 which will help with the flowers .

If there is a fifth week in the month , I use plain water .

Always water with plain water in between the fertilizer waterings.

I believe watering this way helps to develop the leaves , roots and the flowers , it feeds the whole plant .

Phals like a temperature drop of about 10 degrees to encourage a flower spike to grow .

Hope this helps some for you .