How do you get long spikes on Phals?
 

Hello everyone. So this has been wandering my mind for a while. I'd say I got my hand on basic Phal culture (none killed, rebloomed quite a few), but I have noticed that in some that I've bought with long spikes (some even have had more than 5 nodes before the first bloom) and with big blooms, when they rebloom for me the spike isn't that long and blooms aren't that big. Yes I do sometimes skip watering on time, so maybe it's just that? Or is it the nursery heat and humidity that plays a key role on this?

Thanks in advance,

Stan

Nurseries have perfect conditions for these - light, warmth (and strategic cooling just enough but not too much at just the right time), humidity. Pretty hard to get that in a home. Just enjoy them as they are... you probably won't be able to match what the commercial growers can do in terms of presentation but appreciate that they bloom anyway even in the absence of perfection.

Most of mine have long spikes (5 nodes before blooms or so). I don't water on a set schedule but when the roots are no longer green. I grow inside and out but because of my location I have my house open a lot so inside gets lots of humidity as well. I alternate feeding them an msu, cal-mag, and kelp, and no additives. I like to soak them when I have the time as opposed to just a quick water. They are all over from south facing to shady west. Sunlight needs seem to vary. Try giving them some extra goodies like the kelp when you notice a spike and see if that helps. I'll upload some pics when I'm back. They're so fun to grow!

Thanks, Roberta. Definitely not doing that @ home hahaha.

KatieM: hope to see those photos! For extra, I have used the old now discontinued miracle-gro fertilizer, which has shown good results for me (or at least no harm ftm). Currently for practical uses, I've been using osmocote (no label, just bought a bag from a seller), but I have been using less than what a grower has recommended bc it seemed like too much for me. He is by far more experienced than I am, so I should probably do as he does lol.

They really are fun to grow. I have one that apparently had its meristem damaged (no more new leaves but two basal keikis and a spike with tiny leaves). It has been in bloom since october or perhaps even september! My guests oftentimes think they're artificial bc they see the same blooms over and over again.

Cheers,

Stan

There is no “one thing” that works.

Once the plant has been “chilled” sufficiently to trigger spike formation, lots of warmth, humidity, and lots of water will favor spike growth, IF the plant has been grown well enough that it is comfortable dedicating the resources to do so.

I’m actually having the opposite problem with a few of my phals. Two plants in particular have grown ridiculously long spikes. The White Dream V3 makes sense, but I still wasn’t expecting a spike this tall (approaching 3’ / ~1m). The other came in bloom last year, but the spike it is currently growing is already longer than the original and hasn’t set any buds yet. My other phals have long but still reasonable length spikes. I guess my answer to your question is you need to grow them at my house for longer spikes. :D

Ray: that seems totally logic. It's how it goes for almost everything if not everything with orchids. I like/hate Catts for that. You only know if you did right all the time before the new growth matures if it blooms. If it doesn't, you adjust and the 6-or-so marathon begins again. Quite a lesson on life.

Dimples: lol! the problems of one are the goals of another. Care to become my neighbour, with your house and weather and all? XD

estación_seca: thank you, I'll start reading.

Cheers everyone

Yes that's a great post with lots of wonderful info that estación posted! I only have one started to open so will post more pics later when they open. The longest is 28 inches so far. One is curved (it got moved during one of our cold snaps and I was remiss on angling back correctly so the spike handled it itself). I don't like when they do that, but alas the orchid shuffle had me distracted.

Yu pin panda just starting to open. 21 inch spike and has another growing. The big guy with multiple branches is 28 inches. (Double potted). That's one I saved from Lowe's and I keep wanting to repot it but it just keeps going lol. The rest is kind of hard to see but they are all between 18 and 24 in.

I don't set out to try to grow long spikes I just try to take care of them intuitively and this seems to be the result. They all have multiple spikes and branches and they are all nice and long. The biggest battle I have is keeping the mealy bugs away! Hope you find a good regimen that works for you! I definitely like giving them calmag and kelp in addition to msu. And because of where I live I am able to give them those cooler evenings during the fall and winter. I do believe that does make a huge difference. Keep us posted can't wait to see some pretty pictures!