Does anyone know about this three petaled phalaenopsis
 

I bought a yellow three petaled orchid about a year ago and it hasn't been blooming for a while. I have my 12 orchids under grow lights and this one is by a nice sunny window with diffused blinds. It seems to love it but I just don't anything about the three petaled orchids and why they are like that. If anyone has any comments or suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated :biggrin:

Katie do you have a picture of it? It kind of sounds like it might be peloric from your description of it.

I would guess it's a peloric as well but difficult to tell without a picture. (Peloric is a mutation, on individual orchids it's a one off on a particular flowering, on others it may be persitant.)

Would love to see pictures!!

What you're describing sounds like a peloric mutation.

But just so we're all on the same page...

Orchids naturally have 3 sepals and 3 petals.

1 of the petals is modified into what is horticulturally called a lip (I believe scientifically it's called a labellum).

So what you may be saying is that the Phal has 3 lips instead of the normal 2 petals and 1 lip. Are we correct in assuming this?

A photo does help greatly.

Updated - pics of orchid
 

Here are some pics of the orchid. I loved the way the flowers looked and how good it looked when I got it. I has 8 leaves now and plenty of roots growing out of the wooden hanger that I have it in.

https://picasaweb.google.com/katie.d...jwn-jO-r7hjQE#

It is a beautiful peloric phal. It has the petals that all look like lips. I love these and can't seem to find them. Enjoy.

Yep, it's peloric. Nice one!

Sometimes Phal's need a bit of a cool spell in the fall to initiate flower spikes. Usually about 4 to 6 weeks of temps a bit cooler than room temp. Say 60 degrees. If it is otherwise healthy and the roots are good, this may be all it takes. Some plant food with a large middle number also helps boost blooming. This is the P (phosphorous) in the fertilizer.

How do you get the orchids down this cool below the average room temperature? I live in an apartment so I don't have that much room.