help me to get it to bloom

[skeenski]

I have a phalaenopsis Orchid . It has tons of leaves at least 6 huge leaves and has the tons of runners, but it never blooms. I fertilize it and water it, it looks healthy but never blooms.
It sits on dining room table about 3 feet from a south window growing a doing well but never ever blooms.
What do I need to do to get it to bloom?
Ideas and help very welcome. Linda

[Lorraine]

Your phal sounds healthy enough. I would suspect that is not enough temp drop to induce spiking. Although I live in South Florida and it is warm here most of the year the phals need it to drop to the 50/60 degree temps before I see them give me anything. If you have a cool but not freezing area to put it in for a couple weeks you should get lucky. I'm waiting for my nights to stay cool. All my guys grow outside. They take temps to the mid 40's no problem. I only have to be cautious of low temps and wind.

[Leafmite]

Lorraine has it right. They like a bit of a drop in temps. Putting it near a cold window (not touching the glass) will often bring about spikes if it is really cold outside.

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Lorraine has it right. They like a bit of a drop in temps. Putting it near a cold window (not touching the glass) will often bring about spikes if it is really cold outside.

I agree, be careful that the sun is not too strong through the window. A north window to do the temp drop will protect from the sun burning it should work.

[WhiteRabbit]

How long have you had this plant?

Often if a plant is growing well, but not blooming, it may need more light. 3' away from a window is quite far. May be alright a foot back from a south facing window in winter, but when sun is high in the sky in summer it may need to be right in the window, or a different window all-together.

[skeenski]

Ok I will put it in front of my north window and see if it will drop enough to work. The only other place that is cool has no light. A fruit room under my front porch and I don't think the lack of light would help it .
Thanks for the tips and I will see what happens,
Do I just leave it in front of the north window or do I need to move it back to the light during the day?

[WhiteRabbit]

This time of year a north window doesn't get much light - BUT, I have grown and bloomed Phals in my north facing window - spikes starting in late winter or early spring - so it might do ok there.

Growing orchids can be a lesson in patience - sometimes you need to try a different spot more than once, but you need to give them sufficient time at whichever spot you are trying ...

[NYCorchidman]

I grow my phals more than 3 feet away from the south window ( large bay window) and it is plenty bright. They all grow and flower fine.
It can be rather dark if the windows are not big enough.

Then again, you haven't answered an important question that I wanted to asked as well.
How long have you had this plant?

If you bought it in bloom any time after spring this year, your plant may not spike this season.
It is out of its cycle and needs some time to adjust to the new growing environment.