Hi, allen. Bud blast just happens sometimes. I can't always figure out why. But I have noticed that it's more common when a plant is weak and the roots are compromised. If that's the only one that drops, don't worry about it. If the rest of the buds follow, better de-pot and check the roots.

About light: phals can take a lot more light than you would think just reading the culture sheets about "bright shade". They have to be acclimated gradually to higher light-- the light increased gradually over a period of about two weeks.

When acclimated, they can take an hour or two of direct light in the morning and also the later afternoon. Light is good for them-- they grow faster, bloom with more flowers, stay healthier, etc etc

If your window is unobstructed, the light is gradually getting stronger all by itself, acclimating your plant for you. It should be *in* the window, now several feet away, and no curtain shading it. But that's the end goal. Be sure to acclimate.

Good luck. I hope the rest of your buds stay on and open beautifully for you.

You might try not letting the plants dry out too much, and you might also try to mist the buds very lightly. I usually spray above the spike and let the mist drift downward. I know misting is not recommended, but I think bud blast warrents it.

At this time of year, with rapid changes in the weather--sun and overcast, wet and dry, cold and warm--orchids which are generally pretty regular in their water usage can be quite unpredictable.

Two weeks ago, one of my Phals stayed damp three days longer than usual, so I held off watering it. This week, three blossoms on another Phal wilted, early, in rapid succession. Alarmed, I checked it for water and found it completely dry. For the three years I have had it, this Phal (which has no drainage) has never needed water in less than seven days and usually goes 9 to 10 days between waterings. Needless to say, I have learned a lesson. Watering stopped the blossom wilt, and from now, on, I'll be depending far more on checking, than on watering "schedule."

It may also be that Phals in bloom use water faster than usual; it seems intuitive, but I don't know that it is so.
Anyone?

Sweetcicely

Zone 5 in winter, the dry heat probably dried up the buds. I would agree with Whitecat that misting or providing some extra humidity would help.

One thing I do is to have the budding spikes above my other plants. This is a sort of micro-climate approach which seems to work when the house air is very dry.

Sweetcicely, my method is to always check by lifting the pot or sticking my finger in. There is no schedule which works for my plants. My plants dry out very quickly during this time of the year because of the desert-like air. Best to always check first.

Jane

Thank you all for your help. I have added more water to the saucer and have given it a little more light (fluorescent). I will also try misting it. We don't have forced air (we have radiators) but it still has probably been a little dry for it. It would really stink if the rest of the buds drop. I have babied that thing all year, and dang it all, I want my $4 worth (it was mislabeled as a "foliage plant."

Thanks again. I'll keep you posted.

Allenz5,

With regard to light, Mehitabel is right on.

To check for too much direct sun, lay your hand on a leaf receiving the most light. If it feels more than mildly warm, you may need a sheer or semi-sheer screen to prevent sunburn.

Sweetcicely

I now have two beautiful blooms!!!! I have been misting it twice a day and have increased the light level. It did the trick!

Allenz ~ Hooray and Hallelujah!

You are that much further along the learning curve. Sometimes it gets a little frantic, but addressing each orchid growing "crisis" puts new knowledge in your mental orchid file.

Enjoy those blossoms!
Sweetcicely

Sweetcicely, I also have come to the conclusion that some plants, when in bloom, need a bit more water than usual.

Thanks for the input, Orchid126. Growers walk a kind of tightrope where watering is concerned. It helps a lot when others share their thoughts and experiences in that regard.

Sc