Encouraging better Phal Blooms

[chrono]

When I first bought my Harlequin phal, it had 2 spikes which lasted almost 8 months. I am happy to report that not only it survived (I killed all my orchids when I attempted to grow them years ago), it spiked for me this year! Just one spike, but it tickled me to no end.

However, the spike is rather short compared to when I first got it. The previous spikes had about 7 flowers. All I have are 4 fully opened flowers and one more bud growing.

My question is why is this spike so short? It is healthy with 4 large leaves over 1 ft long and lots of fat white/green roots. Also, how do I encourage more spikes and a longer spike?

I fertilize every alternate week (flushing with water on those weeks) and they get a SW window in my bathroom with wooden shades that I can play around with. Humidity meter says it ranges from 50% to 60% humidity.

[tom499]

are use using a support for the spike? like growing it up a cane or anything?

also, if it the 1st time its blooming for you it may not bloom to its full potential. after a few years with you it will put out more as it is used to its new environment and put on a better show. well thats what i've found

[chrono]

Yup, when it was about 5 inches high, I twist tied the spike to a support cane. Yes, it is the first time it is flowering for me. I guess if I keep this up, I can look forward to more and bigger blooms next year.

[tom499]

that sounds fine to me

if it looks and stays healthy then yes, it will only get bigger and put out more and more buds

[mayres]

My experience is that the more mature and heathier the plant, the more complex and long the spike. Indeed if you keep yours healthy it should only get bigger with each passing season. My guess, and it is only a guess (this is my unscientific current thinking), is that the more you push all the factors to the limit of what they want without crossing the line, the bigger the plants AND spikes will be. If they have 100% ideal temperature, light, humidity, watering, fertilizer, etc. then they should maximize - if you are on either side of the imaginary line they will be smaller than the maximum possible. Each of our challenge is to find how close we can come to that "line" - without going over the edge. For example, give them all the water they can take and use without causing root rot. Giving them all the light they can use without burning them, etc. Good luck and enjoy! mike

[kmarch]

Dear chrono,

In my growing experience it is very common for a plant to skip a blooming cycle or to give a lesser bloom until it gets acclimated to your conditions. Now havign said that, it is frequently the case that home conditions are not as ideal as nusery conditions and so plants, evenmature ones, may not perform as well.

You mention fertilizing but don't say what kind you use. I don't fertilize my Phals now but when I did, I used a bloom boosting fertilizer starting in September (Autumn) and going through the end of the year. I'd go back to the high nitrogen fertilizer after the blooming season had past, usually about March or April (Spring). NOTE: The months I reference are for the Northern hemisphere.

You are clearly doing somethign right though or the plant would have died instead of blooming so keep up the good work.

Happy Growing!

[chefatplay]

The newest phal I bought has been fertilized with 30.10.10 all year. They said they fertilize overhead every other week. The nursery makes their own mix and I purchased some thinking if this is what the plant is used to, this is what I will continue. Do you think this is good thinking or should I change to bloom buster from Sept thru March next year as mentioned here?