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New leaves and roots, no spikes

9 years ago

Hi,

I was wondering if you could tell me why I am getting new roots but no spikes on phals. Yesterday I also noticed on one phal that I am getting a new leaf. This was the plant with the healthy and copious roots and nice large leaves (already 2 new leaves this year, this makes 3). The best conditions, I thought, for spiking. Why is the plant spending energy on roots and leaves this time of year? Any thoughts or suggestions?

I am in N. Texas, they have gotten a temperature drop every night (except intermittent warm nights in 55-60 range). The plants are in a east facing window, only getting full sun for an hour or so in the morning. I am letting the mix nearly dry out between waterings. I am using a mild fertilizer, alternating between a 7-8-6 and a fish/seaweed fertilizer.

Emily

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Comments (11)

bouldergrower
9 years ago
I have eight phalaenopsis in my Colorado home. They grow in a bright north upstairs window from the time they stop flowering until they start putting out spikes in early to late spring. They are growing new leaves and air roots now. When they start flowering I bring them downstairs for display. Only one is still flowering on the second spike it produced this year.

I think your plant is probably doing just fine.

This post was edited by BoulderGrower on Sun, Nov 23, 14 at 12:22
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emily78
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks - I guess I didn't know that leaves this time of year are normal. I appreciate the feedback.
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I believe this is what has sparked the second spikes this year: the AC in my building kicked in for the summer, so even though the long, warm days are here, the temps in this room have dropped considerably. The next temperature swing will be in February, which coincides with lengthening after days after winter ... I think this is how I've ended up with two bloomings per year, and spikes that grow more buds one month after the first series of buds have opened. I feel like a greenhouse tricking orchids to bloom out of season (except I'm not 100% sure how I'm doing it, lol!). Oddly, my office had been in a south-facing, evenly temperate location down the hall for 7 years, and this never happened. My orchids faithfully had one bloom every year at the same time. Now I'm in an east-facing location, and the temp is all over the place, and it's a circus up in here, I'm never sure what to expect!
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zzackey
9 years ago
I put mine outside for a few nights. It needs a few cool nights to spike. About 50 degrees worked for mine.
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emily78
Original Author
9 years ago
Is it really just a few nights? I did that..might try again this weekend since it will be in the 50's at night (30's and 40's now which I think is too cool). Otherwise they have been right beside an open window...
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zzackey
9 years ago
I did it for three nights because the weather was getting colder. You have to wait awhile for it to spike after that. It doesn't happen overnight.
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westoh Z6
9 years ago
Emily,

If they have been getting a 15-20 degree temp drop from day and night for a few weeks, that should be enough to cause a hybrid phal to start spiking. My guess would be it is a lack of bright light. Try "slowly" giving it more sun/light if possible.

New leaves and good roots mean your care is right, if the temp drops have occurred, it must be the light, IMO.

Good luck,

Bob
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emily78
Original Author
9 years ago
Dang. I was hoping you weren't going to say it was the light, because there's almost nothing I can do about it (my husband would kill me if I set up lights...). We live in a condo that faces NORTH (just tested with my phone...almost exactly north). The sun doesn't shed enough light in the windows in the morning sun that we do get. Any suggestions? I need to maintain the impression with hubby that I am just an orchid lover, not hobbyist.
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westoh Z6
9 years ago
Put it in the brightest spot you can find.

Bob
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emily78
Original Author
9 years ago
It's floor to ceiling windows, just only a small amount of direct light this time of year. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Thank you!
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jane__ny
9 years ago
Emily, if you only have the one plant, get a desk light. I did that and bloomed a Oncidium Twinkle. Just take a regular desk light, stick a CFL in it and put the plant under it for the winter. I'll try to find the pics I have (been a few years), but you can rarely have too much light.

You didn't mention light in your original post. Seeing you were in Texas, I assumed you had plenty of light. Now, I'm beginning to think that could be the reason for the lack of flowers.

Try it, it worked for me.

Jane
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emily78
Original Author
9 years ago
I had three, now I have four (I just got a rescue from my grandmother). That's a good idea..I might try that. Knowing nothing about lighting, I googled CFL and it came back with Canadian Football League...haha. I guess that's a standard fluorescent bulb?
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