Phal. bud blast galore!!

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by camillenad

That's the temp. At night during the day it goes up a bit naturally since its sunny. Some of the phals are growing out of old spikes that u cut above one of the nodes, so do I cut off the fresh spike out of an old node? Or choose another node off the main spike n cut above that one the way I did before?

Oh, well, in that case, I don't think it is a problem at all

Now regarding cutting spikes on phals, I read a few different things about where to cut. I leave all of mine as they are until they turn brown or branch out and flower more.
I've noticed, however, the ones that accidently break or get damaged before all the buds open up on the main spike will often produce smaller spike, and that location where the spike grew out was always the next node from the breaking point or where the first bud was attached.
so I recommend but can't guaruntee, cutting the spike, if you wish, between where the first bud was and the node right under it.
I do not recommend cutting the spikes in an attempt to get second flowering unless it is a ever flowering types of phals. The cycle is grow leaves, then spikes, stay in flower for many months...then it's time to grow again, not being forced into bloom again, and many of them won't response, some do, some don't.

Now, like the ones you have where the buds on the main spike fail, it is a different story. The plant is in flowering mode and suddently something happens and it cannot flower. If you cut the spike, it will mostly likely trigger the plant the wake up one of its many dormant eye along the spike.

good luck!

[camillenad]

Thanks NYCorchidman cut off a secondary spike today after the last bud that was growing also shriveled n fell off ( but thank you for all the advice and knowledge you and many other OB members gave me, im learning so much here and all of you are so nice to share your knowledge, i truly appreciate it. Thank you OB members!

[silken]

Something I am wondering about, are these all fairly new orchids or have you had them for a while and the spikes grew since you had them? How healthy are the plants themselves? How are the roots? And what kind of heater is in the next room? If it is propane or oil, it could be giving off some fumes that would cause bud blast. One more question, were you misting the buds?

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[camillenad]

hmmmm. Heaters Propane, i never mist buds, is misting buds bad though? And some i've had for a few months some for about a year or more. All have bud blast. As in total bud blast Think it might be the propane? i moved a few to another part of the house.....

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[silken]

I try not to mist buds as some are affected by it. I always wonder how flowers and buds in nature get rained on and are fine, but...Mother Nature knows what she is doing better than me! I would seriously suspect the propane heater since a number of us have gone thru many other possibilities with no obvious culprit being found. Also they aren't all new so that is not a common factor. I've read in orchid books that propane and oil heaters can cause bud blast. It would be nice if you had some remaining healthy Phal buds to try in a room far away from the heater. That way you would know for next winter when they all bloom again. If you don't have one, You may just have to buy yourself another! Good luck!

[camillenad]

So im gna have to wait so long for these to produce new buds (( I guess ill have to buy some new orchids in bloom just so i can enjoy them for the time being!

Thanks Silken!

[silken]

I was just Googling 'propane heaters and bud blast in orchids' and there is a lot on the web referring to instances of complete bud blast when un-vented propane heaters are used. William Cullina who has written an orchid book says one night when he needed to use a propane heater lost the buds and sheaths on ever single orchid in his greenhouse after one night! I'm not sure how yours is set up, but if it isn't vented, I would say that's the problem. What's the chance of switching to an electric heater? If the propane one is giving off fumes, its not good for you either.
Yes, get yourself another orchid to make you feel better and to justify it, consider it a necessary experiment Your really do deserve a new one. I'm upset when something happens to one orchid, never mind ten of them.

[camillenad]

lol i guess its too late now to switch since most buds are already goners, but won't hurt to change for the next round! So some new orchids are the temp. solution for now Thanks !

[silken]

Originally Posted by camillenad

lol i guess its too late now to switch since most buds are already goners, but won't hurt to change for the next round! So some new orchids are the temp. solution for now Thanks !

Please keep us posted how the new ones do in a different location. It would be good to know. Good luck!

[camillenad]

Will do. Thanks!