Just saying Hi

[AshleighJade]

Hi Guys,

Just thought I would introduce myself.
My Name is Ashleigh and i have just purchased a BLUE Phal!! I saw it and just couldt leave it on the shelf and it ended up in my car being driven home!!
Ive also got 2 Phals at home but unfortunately they havent rebloomed since i got them a few years ago! But i put that down to me not treating them right and I have changed my ways and have looked into Phals A LOT! They both have pretty poor rot systems so im trying to get their roots sorted before i even think about helping them reflower!
Im hoping this blue Phal i bought today will brin me some luck and ill be able to get it to rebloom over and over again!

Ive hopfully attached a photo of it - im in love!

[cbuchman]

Welcome to the OB. Just so you know, the blue phal you bought will re-bloom white as it is a died flower (you can find lots about this on the OB using search).

[Vanda lover]

Welcome!
It is also possible that it is one of the genetically altered phals, but if it is dyed it is likely to be white the next time it blooms.

[AshleighJade]

You know I did wonder after a closer inspection of it whether it was dyed! I guess I have my answer!
I dont mind though - its still beautiful!

I just hope I can get it to rebloom - you hear so many different ways of watering Orchids and how to keep them that it can get a bit confusing at times!
Any advice would be welcomed!

So fingers crossed for positive outcomes!!

[SlipperGirl]

Welcome to OB

You can find lots of info at aos.org Good luck

[Bud]

WELCOME ABOARD!!!!

you have a hybrid Phalaenopsis so it will bloom for you three times a year....just follow the culture and you are set. I do not know if the other Phals you got is a specie or a hybrid so its really hard to say why it is not blooming for you ever since you got them.
They are all correct in saying that the next time your blue Phalaenopsis will bloom; it is going to revert to its original color. They inject the spike with a blue dye that is absorbed by the buds and produce a beautiful shade of blue....but sadly the closest blue any natural orchid can produce is a blue violet from by the coerulea variations.

[AshleighJade]

3 times a year?! wow! I cannot wait to finally have a Phal that blooms! Bud would you suggest when the flowers fall cutting the spike above the node or all the way down at the base?
Unfortunately taking pictures of the others wont allow you or anyone to determine if they are species or hybrid because all they are, are leaves at the moment!! I think it was due to my poor treatment of them that they havnt rebloomed what with not watering them in the correct way and ignoring them basically!!So ill concentrate on getting their root system back to health then maybe look into trying to get the to reflower!
The dye doesn't harm the orchids in ay way does it? theres a slight nick or something in the stem quite far down - this shouldn't matter should it?

Thanks again

[WhiteRabbit]

[Vanda lover]

One important thing to rebloom a phal is a drop in temperature, especially at night. Usually a cool windowsill is enough to do this, at this time of year. I like the clear pots because you can see the roots. If the roots are green, they don't need water. Silver-grey, they do.
Whether you cut above a node or cut the whole thing spike off after blooming is up to you. I have read that you get more flowers if you cut the whole thing off. Some doritinopsis hybrids can bloom an amazing length of time. I have one called Sweet paradise that goes for about 6 months, then starts again soon after it finishes.

[rebelcowgirl82]

Welcome t OB!!!! I'm new myself. I have a NOID Phal that has been in bloom for going on 8 months now with 3 unopened buds. I find that I have a tendency to love my orchids to much, which means I'm a chronic over water!!! So I try to neglect them as much as possible lol. I have all my Phals in a west facing window and they are all either in bloom or in spike..... Good luck with your Phals.