This Could Be Why Your Healthy Phal Isn't Blooming

[orchidsarefun]

there are most likely other factors in play too, especially in home conditions. I have an airconditioned/heated house - 71f in late Summer and about 70f in Winter. On my SF windowsills the temps differ to that norm quite a lot, especially in late Summer. Most of my hybrid phals start spiking when day length, combined with temps, start decreasing. Its hard to see that as coincidental.

[quiltergal]

I think we also need to remember that in complex hybrids you will find many summer blooming species in their background. That could account for the differences in data between the two hybrids used in the first study.

Ray I wondered the same thing about equatorial native plants. Temperature and day length is the same year round for the most part. So what cues those plants to bloom?

[hanzy08]

there is also a temperature decrease of about 10-15 degress farenheit in equatorial countries between the months of December and february because the icy cold air from the northern countries moves south thus cooling the south eastern countries. also, when the monsoon rains starts, there will be a dramatic drop in temperature as the summers can be really harsh down there.. there is also a shortening of day length but the time is not pushed back unlike here..

[NYCorchidman]

Hybrids can do crazy things with different species mixed up in them.

Most of my phals (hybrids) are on schedule. Around September or October, many will spike.

Then some just bloom whenever they feel like blooming. lol

[My Green Pets]

Originally Posted by Ray

Plant metabolism and chemical processes can certainly be affected by temperature, but the maintenance of elevated temperature, by itself, as the reason for not blooming, might be misinterpretation of data.

I thought it was interesting that plants in the study bloomed without any day/night temperature change as long as the temp was below 26°C. Plants kept at a steady 29°C did not spike, according to their report.



This miva smartissima hybrid has a long and complicated mixed parentage of amabilis, schilleriana, stuartiana, lueddemanniana, and sanderiana. Not uncommon in most modern hybrids, right?

As far as photoperiod goes, I dont think phals are affected by it as they come from 12/12 year-round environments. The temperatures in their native habitat change more than the length of daylight, which is why they use that as their cue to bloom. Basically what hanzy already said

[Bobkap]

Does the information that you have researched hold true for DTPS plants as we'll?

[lepetitmartien]

I'm not sure that using complex hybrids to sort out a Definitive Law for Spiking in Phals may be the best protocol idea around.

Involving species or at worse primary hybrids with both parents sharing similar conditions may be way more interesting.

[My Green Pets]

Originally Posted by lepetitmartien

I'm not sure that using complex hybrids to sort out a Definitive Law for Spiking in Phals may be the best protocol idea around.

Sure, but no one is trying to write any definitive laws, just investigate further into the mysteries of orchid blooming.

Since most beginners start with complex phal hybrids, the findings of this study could help them (me) to know why an otherwise healthy plant doesn't bloom. It certainly helps me understand why my phals are spiking even though there is very little temperature fluctuation in my flat

[Tindomul]

Thats really kool! There maybe hope for my P. equestris this year!!!

[Masdyman]

Also probably the reason they are such good house plants, as they are in the UK. Our temperatures in my home rarely goes above 26c even in summer and definitely not in winter, minimum of 14c is maintained by the homes heating stat. This is probably an average for many home owners in the UK.
I have read part of that article(fertilization) and it was very interesting.