Need advice

[BrandonYJ]

I've had three phals for about a year and a half. They have all had new leaf growth and root growth, but will not bloom for anything. What am i doing wrong? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[camille1585]

Hi Brandon, welcome to OB!
The primary reason for an orchid to not bloom is lack of light, followed by lack of fertilizer. Where are you located, and can you tell us more about where/how you grow them?

Also, phals need an overall cooling down of the temperature for a few weeks in order for them to set their spikes. Usually this change happens naturally for most of us when then the weather cools in the fall. Then the phals bloom during the winter/spring.

[orchidsamore]

Phals bloom in the fall or spring when the day time to night time temperatures drop 15-20 degrees.

If you are keeping them indoors where the temperature is constant they will often fail to bloom.

It would not hurt to move it to a brighter area, although, Phals in pots do not need much light to flower.

I recommend putting them outdoors in the fall as long as night temperatures stay above 45 degrees. If that fails to set blooms put them out again in the Spring when night temps are stating above 45 degrees.

In really cold areas a cold room or halway may be sufficient.

[orchidsamore]

One other thing is that they only bloom once a year. You said you have yours a year and a half but what time of the year did you buy it?

If it was purchased in the summer or early fall, then the growers heated the plants in the winter to prevent flowering and then chilled them in the summer to flower. This is often done for mother's day.

Plants out of natural sequence like this often do not bloom the next bloom cycle and take a year and a half or longer to bloom again.

[Lagoon]

Hello Brandon, Welcome aboard!

Well, for me I have yet to cool down a phal to make it come into bloom. I believe that lighting is the factor.

Let us know what you're conditons are

[Singingirl96]

I agree that you'll need to cool it down. Many phals won't need this, but if you have it near a window sill, when it gets cold outside, the low night temperatures will trigger it to bloom.

More light would be good too. Not direct sunlight of course.

You may also use a bloom booster fertilizer. I use a bloom booster sold at lowes.

Every single of my 20 phals have bloomed this spring.

You will also need patience, good luck.

[camille1585]

Personally I don't believe in bloom booster fertilizer. I use the same fertilizer all year round, and every single one of my phals bloomed this winter/spring, some of them with double spikes. When I had a few that refused to bloom, I put them in stronger light (dappled sun in a south window) and that took care of the problem.

[Magnus A]

I agree with Camille, plants take up what they need and as long you give enough they thrive! But do not give them to much!

Commersial growers of Phal. hybrids keep the plants warm for growth, I have heard above 26 degree Celsius. When they need to initiate flowering they move them to 16-18 degree to initiate flowering and it takes roughly 90 days until the first bud open. This is the only things they need to do to control flowering. No mixing with special fertilizer or different lights!

[brush]

I have to agree that phals like to be cooled down and put in a brighter light for a period of time . I do that with mine . I also give a bloom booster every 4th watering .