COAXING A PHAL INTO BLOOMING

[superbelks]

Hello fellow orchid-heads!!

I have two very strong looking Phalaenopsis, but ever since their flowers fell off and I cut the spike right above the last node the spike turned brown and I had to cut them off. Now they keep sprouting roots and very green and beautiful leaves, but no new flower spikes. I have tried feeding them, exposing them to window light, letting the medium dry out completely between irrigation and nothing has coaxed these bratty ladies into blooming for me again. It has been one year since I last enjoyed their blooms. Any suggestions? Their leaves are deep green, if this is any indication of their needs please let me know. Thanks guys!

[RosieC]

How long since the last blooms?

Usually phals flower roughly annually but Phals sold in the mass market are coaxed to bloom at just the right moment by controlling the conditions, but it can mean that once you get them they don't follow their usual blooming cycle for 18months to two years.

Having said that... the things that promote high growth can actually inhibit flowering when taken far enough. What comes to mind just now, is too warm, and/or to high nitrogen in the fertiliser. Once phals settle into their routine, the drop in temps at this time of year will often prompt them provided you have a good balanced fertiliser which is not too high in nitrogen.

[superbelks]

Which fertilizer do you recommend? the one I have says it is 19% nitrogen, is that considered too high?

[tucker85]

Since it's only been a year you may just need to be patient. Like Rosie said, phals usually bloom once a year. You say they're dark green which means you may want to try giving them a little more light. Good luck.

[superbelks]

Thanks so much!

[Rainshadow]

I used to flower other orchids but could not get the Phals to bloom except under lights. I moved and they are getting a little more light and a better drop in night temps and ones I've had have flowered every year.

You have to be a careful not to blanch them with too much light but what I read said they should get enough so the leaf color is a little closer to grass green rather than moss green. My sister has one that flowers with less light but gets a good drop in temperature.

Best wishes, Rainshadow

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by superbelks

Which fertilizer do you recommend? the one I have says it is 19% nitrogen, is that considered too high?

It's not so much the strength of the fertiliser so much as the strength you mix it to... often what it says on the packet is not the optimum. I like to buy high concentration fertilisers as they tend to end up cheaper because you use less.

You sometimes see 'bloom booster' fertilisers, but from what I've read it's not the extra P or K but the lower N which makes it help. I use the same fertiliser all year, but at a strength which our member Ray recommends for both growth and blooming.

See this link for Rays fertiliser calculator which I use to calculate my mixing rates. Ray recommends a final solution of 125ppm of Nitrogen, you can adjust this on the calculator to get your own final rate, but he has found this rate to be a good one for both growing and blooming so it's what I aim for.

Fertilizer Mixing Calculators

[Bud]

did you try to put it out in the cold? its 70 degrees inside my apartment at night: but in the daytime it is 45F to 50F outside my window...I make sure to put the plants inside at night so that it wont freeze...four of my phals have spiked...

[silken]

A drop in temp is often all that's needed. A number of mine have started showing spikes just in the last week or so and the greenhouse has been cooler for the last month or so.

[Starla]

mine are kept at a reasonably low temp all the time and I have difficulty stopping mine from flowering. I have one that has been flowering for 3 years. Everytime I think its all over, it makes a new stem. If you can get it (i have no idea where in the world you are) try Orchid Focus food. They have one for flowering and one for vegging. I find 3 months of having the veg food and they are ready to flower again!!