Greetings from the Jersey shore

[cabbo]

Hi Everybody,

I'm new and have lots of questions. I have 2 phals. 1 new, in bloom. 1 about a year old that bloomed from Feb to July. I recently cut off the old stem at the base after doing some research. I havent seen much new growth besides some roots growing up out of the pot. Can I expect a new stem soon since it was in bloom last Feb? I'll add some pic's ASAP.

[neb]

and it is great to have you here

I am not an expert on Phal. but I think if you were going to get a bloom this year you should have seen a spike form already. The reason I say this is because the Phal. I got my mom last year had a spike in the beginning of Dec. and it didn't bloom till Feb. incidentally that one didn't bloom this year either. I hope that these Phal. are like Vanda and if they skip a year as long as you keep them happy the next year they make up for it.

[cabbo]

Thanks Neb. So glad I found this site. Great info and happy people. What a concept!

[Ray]

Most hybrid phals need warmth to grow well, then a couple weeks of average temperatures about 10-15° cooler (think 50°-55° nights and 65°-70° days) in order to initiate spikes.

I'd guess that you have pretty much kept yours about the same temp constantly, so if you move it closer to a window so it sees the cooler nights, you might get it to bloom in another two- or three months.

[Chubidubi]

cabbo to the OB

[cabbo]

Thanks Ray and everybody, I'll try cooler nightime temps.

[CoolPhrog]

Welcome, Cabbo! I have three phals that are in spike due to temp fluxes...I had one last winter that went into spike and by June the following summer, it still hadn't even set buds so I cut it off and now it's one of the three that's in spike again....you just never know! Good luck and keep us posted!