phal spikes

[RJSquirrel]

okey I have my 1st home grown phal spike!!

its very skinny and fragile...
the plant had a very nice spike with about 7-8 blooms when I bought it..

so what makes the phal spike more substantial?

this spike looks to me like its only going to have 1 or 2 blooms...is this why its small spike?

I have given more light but I just read somewhere that too much light causes the blooms to be faded and not very colorful....

my 1st home grown spike , just would like to know how to make the NEXT one better..

and Im not freekin killin phals anymore!!!!

[RosieC]

It seems to me to depend on conditions. A few of mine which spiked in the autum and flowered over winter had small spikes and only a few flowers when in the past they had flowered well for me.

I think it's because our house was quite cold this winter and they were struggling a bit. I'm not really sure though, just what I guessed for mine.

[Zoi2]

I had some issues with several of my phals this year too. I attributed it to being too cold as we had such a long cold winter. Hopefully next year things will go back to normal.
Joann

[jrodpad]

I believe, from anecdotal evidence only, that the last growing season preceding the spike has a huge affect on how many blooms you will get. If I have a new, huge, happy leaf on top that's bigger than the leaf below it, and it's a good color with reddish purple edges and it's thick and robust, I expect great things from the next spike. It doesn't always hold up - but it's a good rule of thumb. The opposite almost always holds up; namely, if the leaf on top is smaller or narrower than the next leaf below it or it's too dark or is thin, ridged or limp, then the subsequent spike (if your lucky enough to get a spike) is going to be lame.

I think its all about maxing out light conditions during the foliar growing season. Great question - I cant wait to hear from the experty types who aren't just shooting from the hip like me.

-J

[Lagoon45]

RJ, Not all spikes sent up will be 2 and 3ft long. Many phal spikes continue to grow as they flower. Just as older or mature phals can hold mulitple spikes. It just depends on the habit of any one phal.

Congrats on the spike

Regards,
Gloria

[RJSquirrel]

ahh so some others of us are having this scenario.

the length of the spike will come with maturity indeed..I think the cold now as some have mentioned might be it. The Phals have been with the Paphs. Phals, I now read, like slightly warmer night temps than Paphs .PaphsPhals I keep at 60-70 at nights.They can both do well in those temps but how well they Phals bloom really might go hand in hand with the slightly tooo cool nights..

The paphs love it

[RJSquirrel]

here it is...beautiful leaves and sturdy plants only 1 skinny spike. I put it in the warm room at night and took out of the shady southern window in the daytime to drop the light level...I think its coming along !!!




Im lettin the spike climb up the chopstick