Phalaenopsis

[SherriMac]

If I bought a Moth orchid with 2 spikes on it....will it grow 2 spikes again? Or will it only have one spike?

[camille1585]

It depends on a few things. First it can depend on how well you can grow it. A happy, well lit, well fed plant can put out 2 spikes again. Usually the first time it reblooms for you after purchase it will have 1 spike, if any at all. That's because the plant was used to growing in a nice warm humid greenhouse, and was getting pumped full of fertilizer by the grower. Ending up in a home with not so ideal conditions is a huge shock to them, and we also feed them much less. It also depends on the breeding/genetics of the plant. While the grower may have been able to force 2 spikes out of the plant using special growing techniques, that may not be the phal's natural tendency, and it might only make 1 spike each time.

[johnblagg]

exactly as stated above...mine has been making one spike each year untill last winter when it rewarded me with two and this year those two are making either keikis or perhaps new seconday spikes and a third spike from the base ....WHOOT It loved sitting under the trees this summer and the bird poo fert it got naturally.

[SherriMac]

I was afraid of that. I have been using fetrilizer with 20-10-20 in Spring and Summer and 6-30-30 in Fall and Winter. I fertilize each time I water which is once a week.