Concern for my Phal blooms

[kazjak]

I've had 4 different phals that have bloomed this summer and not one of them has lasted more than a month.... Any ideas? Other than sharing shelving with African Violets and ivy, all ripening vegetables are in the fridge except a few Roma tomatoes above the kitchen sink 15 feet away. Would the air conditioning shorten the life of the blooms? Hopefully they are happy enough to spike again this winter.

[19419n]

a lot depends on the parentage of them some last long some do not. if the a/c is blowing on them it could i have a hybrid next to a window that has been in bloom now for 4 months and has been hit with a occasional high 40 nite. i think i am just south of you. are they new purchases if so they will not last very long going from one enviroment to another

[Peg McGee]

I have an "R. Palomares" it was given to me and I love it. The problem is I have just moved and now a leaf is turning yellow. I know nothing about orchids and I want to learn. What light do they need and when do I repot?

[PhalPal]

Like 19419n stated above, are they new to your home or did you re-pot recently?? I grow mine indoors exclusively (air conditioning all summer) and it doesn't seem to effect the blooms at all.

[19419n]

Originally Posted by Peg McGee

I have an "R. Palomares" it was given to me and I love it. The problem is I have just moved and now a leaf is turning yellow. I know nothing about orchids and I want to learn. What light do they need and when do I repot?

where are you from that takes into account if i tell you how much light mine get you might think i am nuts

[Peg McGee]

I live in North Carolina. I moved from Raleigh to Lake Gaston. We have a lot of trees here.
Thank you for all of your help.

[19419n]

a good east window will work if they are not used to alot of light move them a little at a time till you get them there. if you want more blooms on them then once they are used to the east window try moving them again to a south or west window again very slowly so you do not burn them it will take you some time. all of my hybrids are growing with my two catts and dens and they love the light. the more light they receive the more blooms it can produce you just have to get them adjusted at a slow pace. if you start to see a red tinge on the leaves this is a indication that this is the most light it can handle with out sarting to burn leave it there for a while and watch itthen come spring try moving into a little brighter room if possible like febuary or march then once it establishes it self there you should be fine and during the summer it will grow quite well for you. then when the weather starts to cool down set it to where you have a decent temperature drop at night and back into the light during the day it should spike for you like it never has

[Peg McGee]

Thank you so much. I'll get it to the East window and then to a west. Thank you so much. The more I read the better I will get at this and I will get my son to buy me more of these. They are beautiful.

[19419n]

hey the more your son buys the more money you save. i sarted a few years ago on mothers day giving my mom one in bloom now i make sure she always has something in bloom all year. only problem is i think she has taken a liking to the paphs over the phals

[kazjak]

All the plants have been in my house for over 6 months and are healthy and growing well. The leaves are all light green so they are receiving ample light. I've got one more spiking so if it also ends quick I'll know I need to change something.

[19419n]

the cooler temps and a little lower light should make them last longer than if they were in warm bright conditions, so the only other thing i could assume is maybe they were new. or the parantage as some species do not last as long as others

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by kazjak

I've had 4 different phals that have bloomed this summer and not one of them has lasted more than a month.... Any ideas? Other than sharing shelving with African Violets and ivy, all ripening vegetables are in the fridge except a few Roma tomatoes above the kitchen sink 15 feet away. Would the air conditioning shorten the life of the blooms? Hopefully they are happy enough to spike again this winter.

Kazjak,

It sounds like your original thread/question got diverted so i'll attempt to get us back on track.

Your Phals, were they ones you've rebloomed or did you buy them in bloom?
If they're ones you've rebloomed, were they new spikes or were they re-blooms off old spikes?
Are they in a drafty area or subject to temperature extremes?

If they ere in bloom when you bought them you never know how long they've been in bloom when you take them home. also the change in environments can shorten flower life. If you've rebloomed them off old spikes, in my experience, those don't seem to last as long. And finally the air conditioning might be a factor as orchids, especially the warmer growing ones, often don't like the cold dry drafts.

Cheers

[kazjak]

kmarch, All but one were reblooms on new spikes. The shelf is up against a slightly north west facing sliding door (full sun comes within a foot of shining into the room). There is a vent directly underneath the shelf but I have it closed off as best I can without covering it.

[mayres]

A few words on what I have noted concerning length of phal blooms (at least for me) -
In general, phals bloom longer if they stay in the same area for blooming from which they were led into bloom. Plants moved to my home environment from an outside purchase location in full bloom seem to last 1-2 months and to my office 2-3 weeks. (Note my office has air conditioning and my home does not) If spiking and blooming in these same locations they both last 3-4 months. The exact same phals last at my mothers home environment six months - she keeps here home more evenly warm than I do - no air conditioning.
Of course when you buy a plant in full bloom you have no idea how long it has been in bloom already. I have noted phals in bloom for three months in local stores that are finally purchased - and then the purchasee is likely to wonder why the blooms faded so quickly?
Blooms seem to last longer if I have them in a location that has good air movement - a fan on 24/7 with enough air flow to gently move the flower spikes just a bit. Stale air and they start to wane - especially when on the warm side.
Just my observations........................

[kazjak]

I don't know what's going on... They never move except to get watered.... Hopefully they'll spike again this winter and they'll last till spring. Just in case they didn't feel well I cut the spike all the way down so they wouldn't bloom again.