Window sill growing Phal's -Do they need to be turned?
 

Well,the title says it in a nut shell really. I've been growing phals (successfully if the flowering rate is anything to judge by) and my only concern is that after a while they seem to fall over towards the light. Should I be turning them? Most houseplants you do turn, but - :scratchhead: What would happen to the flower spikes, especially the side branches, which seem to like growing horizontally towards the window?

Hi Hedge. I grow all my orchids in window sills, and turn them all regularly. Phals can be tricky because of their tall spikes. I have found that some creative staking is needed, to keep them fairly straight. Side branches will grow pretty straight, although the blossoms may not always face the way you think they should. Just keep experimenting, and you will come up with a method that works fairly well. Good luck, and enjoy your plants.

Kim

I like to keep mine so that the side growing a leaf is facing the window, but occasionally turn them just to keep them from flopping too much to that side. However, once a spike starts to grow I try to keep them facing the same direction, training the spike to a stake to keep it from leaning toward the window.

If you had a palm tree was blown over onto its side the trunk of the tree would grow into a curve over time until it was growing straight up again. That is exactly what you Phal is trying to do. You have an orchid that grows sideways or even upside down in nature and you are trying to make it grow straight up. So no matter what you do it is going to lean to one side.
I put my Phal in a basket and hang it on its side so that it can grow in a way that is natural for the plant. This also prevents crown rot since the leaves are able to drain the way God intended.
However, I understand that everyone has their own space and environmental constraints that they must consider.

Good Luck.
AaronM

I have found that certain species of phals tend to lean more than others. Violacea & bellina are two good examples of "leaners". I leave them that way because it looks more natural to me. That said, most of my hybrids grow straight up with no lean at all. They aren't staked. I do find that individual leaves will tilt towards the light, especially new leaves. Even my largest hybrid which has 8 huge leaves doesn't have the slightest bit of lean to it.

:iagree:

I try to rotate them a bit, but once the flower spike starts, I leave it. I don't usually stake my spikes, but if they get rotated, the spike will be crooked.

I dont turn my phals. I let them flop over as they naturally would do in the wild. I stick them outside to get rained on throughout the summer, and i no longer worry about water sitting in the crown, as it quickly runs off. If you enter you phals into displays at shows, the natural/flop look can be a real good thing. The plant will now be turned and posed towards the viewer. If you havent pegged your bloom straight up into the air, it also naturally droops towards the viewer.

Thanks everyone. I think I'll accept the leaning over, as I have flowers that are very settled and it would be a shame to upset them. Also they are not reaching the point where I couldn't squeeze another one onto the window ledge if I find I can't resist buying another!!:lol:

"I stick them outside to get rained on throughout the summer, and i no longer worry about water sitting in the crown, as it quickly runs off. "
Where do you live,Dave? Is it Zone 8 or warmer? I have to go away in July and the idea that they could go outside is great, as a friend could look after them without having to go in the house and reset the alarm each time.

I try not to turn mine ever. The leaves grow to face a certain direction for the light levels the plant finds it needs. When I change direction the plant stalls as it's light levels are completely askew. I find this most noticable with slow growers like gigantea which may stall for a couple weeks.