Any tips on how to get a phal. to flower?

[jax133jax]

What kinds of fertilizers help, any methods or anything special i should know?
I have a ton of orchids i found in a dumpster and none of them are in bloom, so im anxious to see what colors they come out to be!!!
-Jax

[sthh]

So fortunate to have a ton of phals in a dumpster!!
If you have kept them alive for quite awhile, and they are not flowering, then you check your leaf colour. Dark green leaves means too little light. Otherwise, just add some fertilizer weakly weekly. I use gaviota 67 (NPK 14:27:27) and a dash of epsom salt to induce blooming.

[lostonthebeach]

Some photos of the plants would help. Difficult to advise when we don't know what you have.

[silken]

Phals are often induced to bloom after several weeks of cooler temps in the fall. Good light along with the cool temps is important. Don't go below 50 or 55F because Phals are tropical plants and don't like real cold temps.

[NYCorchidman]

Fertilizers do not trigger plants to bloom. They have to be at the right stage to do so.

Do they look healthy? How do the leaves look? How many? If all is well, thjey should make flower spikes in the fall and you will know what colors they are in the spring time when they flower.

If they are not in good condition, then they might skip a season.

As Silken mentioned, temperature drop and sufficient light are the keys.

[jax133jax]

Thanks! That clears up a lot!
And, most of them are sprouting new leaves and seem rather healthy. The leaves grow SUPER fast. Unfortunately, Iv'e lost a few, but i still have about 18 that are totally fine. Forgot to mention i found them in July. So ive had time to make sure they're not all going to die off. I just wasn't sure if i could help them bloom. Im super eager to find out what kinds they were, because when I found them they weren't in bloom.

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Fertilizers do not trigger plants to bloom. They have to be at the right stage to do so.

Do they look healthy? How do the leaves look? How many? If all is well, thjey should make flower spikes in the fall and you will know what colors they are in the spring time when they flower.

If they are not in good condition, then they might skip a season.

As Silken mentioned, temperature drop and sufficient light are the keys.

[NYCorchidman]

You might have some nice surprise next spring!
white, pink, purple, yellow, stripes and spots...who knows!

[lepetitmartien]

- Enough light, but not too much (the bit of violet on leaves is the good limit not to be passed).
- regular equilibrated fertilizer with Mg in it (type depends on your water quality) all year long.

If the conditions are fine, they will flower without more stress than this.