how do i get my orchids to spike??

[cacoonkitty]

hi all, i am new to this forum and this is nmy first post, i am quite new to orchids and in the past i have bought them just for the flowers and never new how i could get them to rw flower once finished, i now have a collection of lovely orchids but most have stopped flowering so i have cut the old stem off and most have been re potted in new soil ,they look nice and green and healthy and are kept at presant in my bathroom which is quite humid and coolish ..how do i get them to re flower as this is not clear to me..they have produced lots of new roots and they are spilling over the top of the pots on some and one has produced a spike and has re flowerd but this ws just purely by coincodence ..any step by step instructions would be wonderfull!!!! great to be hear ...katt.

[BikerDoc5968]

Most importantly, welcome to our home...glad you've joined us. Next, I trust you mean bark or sphag moss or other suitable orchid mix and not "soil" as in potting soil that one might use to pot up a cyclamen or "other" type of "house plant." The next thing that would be helpful is to ID at least the genus of each plant in your collection so we can give you proper assistance....pictures are always great! Cutting the old flower spike at its base is good; some advocate cutting just below the last flower node on the spike. Both will work and each to their own choice. For now lets assume you have mostly phalaenopsis. These chids like a cool temp to set spikes. Temps above 28 - 29 C will tend to promote vegetive growth and not spikes.

[cacoonkitty]

hi, thanks for the reply, im not sure on the genus???? i just know they are phaleonopsis and i have re potten in an orchid mix and in clear potts, they are being kept cool at the mo certainly below what you mentioned and so they are sort of dormant at the mo shall we say as they arnt producing any more leaves or shoots just a few more roots..they did need too do this so im glad about that, as i said i got one to re flower but i did it by accident i have just cut of the old flower spike at the base about 2 nodules up . and i have stopped feeding them a few weks ago.. i know nothing realy i just love them..i do have green fingers it seems as most things grom well for me so i need a step by step plan to get them to re flower..any more info would be really great!!! thanks loads guys!! katt

[BikerDoc5968]

OK, Kitty, part of the reason that your Phalaenopsis is not doing anything just yet is because you re-potted. It is common for chids to take a "rest" before they begin growing or spiking, so be patient. As for your re-potting efforts, you did GREAT....clear pots, orchid mix...GREAT! So the genus is Phalaenopsis. For now just keep them at room temp being careful not to over-water and you'll do great.....

[cacoonkitty]

ok cool..so they have all been re potted about 3 months as the old orchid potting mix looked awfull and i very much doubt i had much nutrients in it(the origonal stuff i bought them in) and suddenly once they had been re potted they all started to produce new leaves and roots and one out of the 7 have re flowered beautifly!! and this one is in my kitchen at the mo the rest are still flowerless in the bathroom which is cooler..when should i bring them back to a warmer room and will this stimulate them to spike too ?? how long it the rest period advised and when should i be feeding them as im not feeding at the mo...thanks guys i know im a compleat amature!! good with all otherplants tho ????

[gehentogo]

Do you have some pictures you could post?

[Tommyr]

I'll add that Google is your friend! Search on Phalaenopsis care and you'll have PLENTY to read!

I am a Phal Killer myself.

[Ray]

I'll also add that if you keep them cool all the time, they will not grow well enough to build up the nutritional stores needed to bloom well.

Following up on Howard's comments, pamper the puppies for several months by keeping them warm, well watered and fed, THEN let 'em stay cool for a couple of weeks, and return them to warm conditions. About 2 months later, you'll be rewarded with lots of blooms.

[cacoonkitty]

ahhhh, ok then i will see what happends if i bring them into the hall way as i keep chameleons so the tems are warmer here then in the batroom. i have pamperd them with new orchid mix and feeders and so i will see what happends, thanks guys much appreciated!!!! kat