OMG MY FIRST SPIKE!!! What do I do!!!

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by Leilani

Well since this is my first spike EVER I'm not going to touch it. I'd rather have stalk that's dropping over than no spike at all. Thanks for all the feeding advice, I'm not going to feed her for awhile (since I wasn't for awhile anyway and she flowered) then I'll just play it by ear after that. Maybe as suggested just maybe 1/8 tsp a week when I water. But for now my hands are off the phal! I'm backing AWAY FROM THE PLANT LOL. Best advice ever.
Unfortunately the light is changing out of my control. We've had more sun this summer than any year I've been alive, and it's starting to go away and back to fog so if the extra sun this year is what she wanted, I can't fix that. I hope that wasn't it.

Cheers! So glad I joined this group. I look forward to learning from all of you seasoned orchid growers!

Only time will tell. Most of the time, these mass produced plants are force fed, treated with hormones, and cooled or dried to get them to bloom as big and early as possible. Then when they are taken out of ideal greenhouse conditions, and grown in more modest hobbyist conditions, it takes a year or two (or more) to recover and adapt before they're willing and able to bloom again.

[Leilani]

I figured as much. I have two others from Larry's Orchids online (I get a new one every valentines day they were babies when I got them so I've never seen them flower. But they're still alive, so hopefully someday they'll bloom as well. The one that's blooming now was store bought while it was in flower.

[My Green Pets]

I'm so excited for you.

Last year was my first spike, and I, too, had a complete freak-out.

I first found the spike starting in October and the first bloom didn't open until February—talk about a loooong wait (and a total miracle I didn't snap the thing off)! But completely worth it!!

So congratulations and enjoy it as it grows and develops a little every day, you can count on about 100 days from now till your first flowers!

[Leilani]

Oh cool! I didn't know it took so long, that's cool that means I get to enjoy it longer. So do they grow flowers, drop them then grow more? Or is it just one and done?

[My Green Pets]

Let's say your Phal is fully bloomed by Valentine's Day. It is not unreasonable to expect the flowers to last into April or even May. The flowers will drop off, one by one, and when the spikes are bare, the plant will begin the growing cycle again, sending out new leaves and roots.

After the warm summer of growing, once again falling autumn temperatures will signal your Phal to bloom again, and the bloom cycle begins.

[Leilani]

Thank you,