Phal. schilleriana: premature bloom wilts?

[DTEguy]

Got this guy last year and spiked in the fall. First flower started opening about 1.5-2 weeks (I think).

Buds are opening rapidly, with new blooms just a tad smaller than the one before. The last flower you are seeing nearing the tip just finished opening yesterday.

Initial blooms started wilting two days ago. Is this normal? Could it be due to low humidity? (currently in the 30%)

Culture: 700 fc/12 hours T5HO, roots on the edge of the plastic are growing with green tips but the center might be out. Water when crunchy on the top, but the bottom will still be slightly moist and when roots are white'ish. 125 ppm MSU weekly.

Edit: Moderator: can you please move this thread to "Species"? Thanks.

[vjo]

Your plant is beautiful, sorry I cant help.
I was wondering if you can tell me where you got it, I think I would like to try one ....Jean

[DTEguy]

Originally Posted by vjo

Your plant is beautiful, sorry I cant help.
I was wondering if you can tell me where you got it, I think I would like to try one ....Jean

Hi Jean,

I bought it from orchids.com. I was getting something form them and decided to tag this one along.

Phal. schilleriana (Phal. schilleriana ' Fragrant Butterfly' x Phal. schilleriana ' Pink Butterfly ' AM/AOS)

Please note that that these are from seeds and all offsprings are variable. Mine is not fragrant and the flower size is about 2.3 inch. However, it was not a bad buy; 18 dollars for ~12-inch span (was not in bloom) and the foliage is very beautiful. I noticed that mine had already bloomed twice when I got it.

Checkout a 4N variant somewhere else and consider if you want to invest in it--I read that they are more vigorous but you'll have to confirm that with others.

[bballr4567]

They really shouldnt be getting smaller. Have you used fert at all?

[nenella]

I have one of these but am no expert- It looks lke it's the first opened flowers that have wilted? therefore probably normal? ... In my experience phal flowers seem to last longer when not 'hit' by direct light. As for the flower size being smaller again I am not an expert, but It could possibly be a deficiency in nutrients. You have a lovely mottled leafed plant with really nice markings. Hopefully your next spike next season willl have larger flowers again; meanwhile enjoy! I have had mine 4/5 years and this year it hasn't spiked yet (hopefully it will soon - but it is late.. Keep us posted.

[DTEguy]

Originally Posted by bballr4567

They really shouldnt be getting smaller. Have you used fert at all?

Yes I did. I bought it late summer last year and feed with MSU fert N:125 ppm and flushing weekly. With Kelpmax at 1:500 bi weekly.

I have noticed that the buds open rapidly and then wilt the earlier blooms at the same time. With the wilting and smaller consecutive blooms, I am thinking that the plant, for some reason, might not have enough energy to support the blooms.

I cut the spike off shortly after my first post and decided to let the plant rest and observe it again this fall.

[DTEguy]

Originally Posted by nenella

I have one of these but am no expert- It looks lke it's the first opened flowers that have wilted? therefore probably normal? ... In my experience phal flowers seem to last longer when not 'hit' by direct light. As for the flower size being smaller again I am not an expert, but It could possibly be a deficiency in nutrients. You have a lovely mottled leafed plant with really nice markings. Hopefully your next spike next season willl have larger flowers again; meanwhile enjoy! I have had mine 4/5 years and this year it hasn't spiked yet (hopefully it will soon - but it is late.. Keep us posted.

Hi Nenella,

Thanks for writing . Yeah the first to open should wilt first, but since it was only less than 2 weeks...that was kinda weird. Two more wilted the day after I posted that picture. Lower branch buds opened and was much smaller.

Maybe it is the light like you mentioned, I am too new at this to figure it out.

I just read some comments about orchids.com (norman's orchids) in the vendor's section in this board. It seems that plants from them have also tested positive for viruses. Not sure if that has anything to do with my orchid but I will to check it just in case so I don't spread anything to the rest of my modest collection I just started last year.

[quiltergal]

Have you checked all the roots yet? You may see some on the outer edges of the pot but that doesn't mean the rest of them in the middle aren't rotten. If that is the case then the plant may not be able to sustain blooms for an extended period of time with a smaller root system.

[DTEguy]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Have you checked all the roots yet? You may see some on the outer edges of the pot but that doesn't mean the rest of them in the middle aren't rotten. If that is the case then the plant may not be able to sustain blooms for an extended period of time with a smaller root system.

Yes that has crossed my mind. I was planning to move this guy into semi-hydroponic. But since I got it in the late summer, I thought it would be best to leave it undisturbed for the time being. It will be re-potted when it's warmer. Thanks.

[billc]

Somethings not right, schilleriana should bloom a lot longer that that. This one has been in bloom since a little before Christmas and still is fresh looking. I have this one in a southeastern facing window and the humidity is mostly 40%.
Like Terry said, you may want to check the roots( there is really no reason to wait) or your problem may be that the plant is too close to a heating source and the blooms are drying out too quickly.


Bill