am i watering my phals correctly ?

[garyorchids]

hi, i have learned a great deal allready from this excellent forum and my phals are looking healthy.
i am using the scewer method and i am watering when the scewer is almost dry. the method of watering i am using is to emerse the plant pot in a bowl of teppid tap water and leaving it to soak for about 15 minutes then leaving to drain.
every second watering ( i am watering about every 10/14 days, i am finding this a suitable period here in england at the moment, ie drying scewer) i re-emerse the pot in half strength fertilixer solution , grow feed for the non flowering plants and flower feed for the bloomers.
i am waiting patiently for a spike, so far i have a new root appearing on one phal and a new leaf on another. is my watering regime correct or are there any suggestions of fine tuning i could be doing ?
thanks in advance for any advice

[dounoharm]

the skewer method of watering works very well for many people..it sounds like you have a very effective system....new roots and leaves are a good indication that they like what you are doing for em......

[kmarch]

The "correct" method of watering is the one that works best for your orchid in your conditions. Because there are so many different kinds of orchids and different growing conditions there is no one "correct" way to water. Based on what you have posted it sounds like you have worked out a watering regimen that works well for you. How long have you had this orchid? What is it potted in?

[garyorchids]

hi kmarch, i have a dozen or so phals, i had my first about two years ago and that began my love for orchids. when that stopped flowering i purchased more, and more, thinking sooner or later i would have one plant that was in flower, however 5 plants in and no re flower, this is what made me seek out advice and i found this excellent forum.
now i have my previous collection of 8 non flowering phals ( which i have repotted, removed any dead roots etc and am using the scewer method ) that are now extremely healthy, firm green leaves with new growth evident on two plants ( roots and leaves ). i have urchased 4 flowering, newly budding plants this year that are thriving. there has been no bud blast since i have stoped misting (well limitted ) and stong healthy blooming plants.
i feel i am on the right track but i am keen/anxious to encourage my own flowering plant !
waiting patiently
Gary

[kmarch]

Ok, hmm, based on your posts, it sounds like your growing them well and you've had them for some time. I think your lack of re-blooms could possibly be the result of one or both of the following:
1) temperatures - Most commonly found phal hybrids need a night time temperature drop of about 10-15F to initiate their flowering cycle. This is not to say they want a cold night, keep them no cooler than about 60F or so but they need that day-night (diurnal) temp difference of 10-15F.
2) light - I think of phals as needing medium light levels. Others use the term "bright, indirect" light. These are similar in my opinion. An east window with a bit of early morning direct light or a south window that has a sheer or something to block the direct light. Perhaps a west window if it doesn't get too hot.

On a clear, sunny day take a piece of paper and put it on a table where you want to measure your light intensity. Put your hand about a foot above the paper. Look at the shadow of your hand. If it is very fuzzy or if you can't see a shadow you have a low light situation. If you can clearly see the shadow but it has fuzzy edges you have a medium light situation. If the shadow has clear, sharp edges, you have a high light situation.

[garyorchids]

hmm, so what is ideal, do you think a medium light situation is the best. obviously a high light situation is not good ! we have the heating on 3 till 9 pm, 5.30 till 7 am weekdays. do you think a spell in the " spare room " ( no heating ) will encourage a spike or two. i have read that a cold spell will encourage spiking ? or will just a nightly temp drop suffice ?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by garyorchids

do you think a medium light situation is the best.

As I said in my last post:

Originally Posted by kmarch

I think of phals as needing medium light levels. Others use the term "bright, indirect" light. These are similar in my opinion.

Originally Posted by garyorchids

we have the heating on 3 till 9 pm, 5.30 till 7 am weekdays. do you think a spell in the " spare room " ( no heating ) will encourage a spike or two. i have read that a cold spell will encourage spiking ? or will just a nightly temp drop suffice ?

Again, as I said in my last post:

Originally Posted by kmarch

This is not to say they want a cold night, keep them no cooler than about 60F or so but they need that day-night (diurnal) temp difference of 10-15F.

I can't say if your "spare room" will help because I don't know what light and temperature conditions you have in there.

[garyorchids]

hmmmm, thank you,kmarch !

[flowerpower]

Give them a bit more light, I have 2 of mine (the ones with the darkest green leaves) in a Southern windowsill. It's very clowdy and overcast all the time, in London anyway. I may move them back to the East-facing window when Spring gets underway but there isn't even a shadow when I put my hand between the plant and the window because the light is so dim.

I think orchids in the UK are generally at a lower risk of getting sunburn than Southern USA/Australian growers. Don't be complacent with it but in the UK it pays to be a bit more generous with the light at this time of year.

[garyorchids]

yes the light here has not been ideal, things are deffinately improving tho i have the non bloomers in a south facing window (behind nets) and the blomers are in dappled sunlight/shade. with my new found care and watering regime (obtained from this excellent forum) i am looking forward to the spring, extra light, warmer and my phals will definately be thriving like never before

[maiseymoo]

I have mine split between an east and west facing window, I have put a blind up in preperation for a scorching summer () just incase too much light becomes an issue.
I have my heating on between 5.50am-6.30am/6pm-9pm and I manage to get a good enough temp drop at night. You need to see what the temp is when the heating is on and when the heating is off just to see what the temp drop is at night.

[garyorchids]

thanks maiseymoo, good plan, i will get a min/max thermometer and observe

[maiseymoo]

I got mine off ebay, it is a combined thermometer & hygrometer, I think it was 99p plus postage.

[garyorchids]

i have done an ebay search maiseymoo but no joy. can you send me a link please