Box Phals

[Pokey49]

I'm just wondering. Should most box store phals be repotted after they finish their bloom cycle or can they be left as they are for another cycle? I have repotted several and after a year plus they still have no spikes forming though the plants have put on new growth and look fine. Just wondering if leaving them alone for another cycle would have yielded different results.

Pokey

[PaphMadMan]

I think you are much better off repotting as soon as you can. The media used for Phals for mass market sale is usually not what you want to use at home. And repotting shortly after a bloom cycle ended should have nothing to do with lack of blooms over a year later. You may need to examine some other aspect of your culture.

[Pokey49]

Ok thanks. I have looked at other aspects of my culture as u suggest and I am stumped. They sit next to some of my paphs and they seem to be doing ok. I have them in a sun room which is on the north side of the house but has multiple windows on the east west and north and two sky lights. No hot direct sunlight. Temp is 60 at night 70 at day. Watered and fed weekly or every other week depending on moisture. All are putting on new growth and nice aerial roots ???????????

[snowflake311]

Originally Posted by Pokey49

Ok thanks. I have looked at other aspects of my culture as u suggest and I am stumped. They sit next to some of my paphs and they seem to be doing ok. I have them in a sun room which is on the north side of the house but has multiple windows on the east west and north and two sky lights. No hot direct sunlight. Temp is 60 at night 70 at day. Watered and fed weekly or every other week depending on moisture. All are putting on new growth and nice aerial roots ???????????

North side of the house? I think that's your problem right there. Not enough light. Phals like more sun then people like to admit. Put them in a east or west window they will do better.

Mine are in a south facing window and get a bit of direct light most of the sun is filtered by large tree. they bloom like clock work.

[RJSquirrel]

mature ready to bloom phals will spike if given approx. 2-3 weeks of 55- 60 degrees with a diurnal spread of 20 degrees during the day

night time 55-60
day 75-80

the temp drop is the signal and how mass grown greenhouses have phals all year round

after the recent cold Ive had the past few weeks I have quite a few spikes going.

I am a Wizard!!! and there is no big secret to getting phals to bloom. Its not inner sanctum illuminati material.

[cbuchman]

Sometimes, orchid just skip a cycle as they acclimate to a new environment. This happens to me all the time. Patience

[Pokey49]

Exactly what I was thinking next.

[Leafmite]

Do they get cooler temperatures? Some Phals need cooler temperatures to initiate a spike.

[Tschimm]

60F at night. That should be cool enough.

[jmmehler]

I believe that a phalaenopsis is supposed to start spiking around November, and blooming by January. Box store phals have been forced to bloom, by providing a cooler environment or a few weeks. If yours have just finished blooming, your plant probably needs a few months of rest.

I have found that if you put them in an environment that experiences a daily temperature fluctuation of about a 15 degrees, (i.e. 55 - 70) for about 3 or 4 weeks, that spiking will occur.