Phal. spikes

exasperatus2002 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2008, 11:18 PM

I know good things come those who wait. I know patience is a virtue. I hunt and fish and know a thing or two about patience. But will there be an end to the wait?? AHHH!! Decemer 12th, the larger spike was about 4-5" long and the shorter spike was an inch. Now here they are, January 6th. they are starting to form buds. I cant wait! I measured them today when I watered it. The large spike is 21" and the short one is 15" long. Both spikes are from the same plant. I was going to seperate them & repot them when I discovered it was spiking. The last time it bloomed it had a short weak spike. This time its like its on roids and I havent done anything different. I also look forward to getting better pics this time around.

Last time it bloomed was 5/15/07-

evagentry · #2 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 12:01 AM

nice looking spikes, I hope you get lots of flowers, please post a picture when they finally come.

patlee · #3 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 05:22 AM

Maybe the plant has finally adjusted to your home. Has it only been with you a few years? Whatever...you are certainly doing something right. Keep up the good growing and you're bound to get a real show.

Be sure to send us pics when she blooms

exasperatus2002 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 01:37 PM

Ive had the plant for 6-7 years but only in its current location for 3 yrs.

rmt135 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 02:35 PM

It must be a long wait. You certainly have lots of patience & you are duly rewarded.

exasperatus2002 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-07-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmt135

It must be a long wait. You certainly have lots of patience & you are duly rewarded.

This is the 2nd time its flowered since Ive had it. I originally bought it in bloom from home depot (noid). It just kept getting bigger and bigger. The leaves are huge.

Nancy · #7 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 01:20 PM

That is a beautiful bloom color. I have two pots of noid phals from the Home Depot. Two plants in each but only one spike for each pot. The longer spike has four buds. I can't wait either. Why don't we get together and play some cards or something? Maybe that will make the waiting easier!

exasperatus2002 · #8 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy

That is a beautiful bloom color. I have two pots of noid phals from the Home Depot. Two plants in each but only one spike for each pot. The longer spike has four buds. I can't wait either. Why don't we get together and play some cards or something? Maybe that will make the waiting easier!

We could start a book club and read war & peace. Atleast that how long it feels that its taking.

PhalPal · #9 (**permalink**) 01-08-2008, 03:28 PM

I'm sure you know that you still have a loooooong time before you will get flowers??? Buds have yet to form and then it seems like forever! until they open.

joan gero · #10 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 03:02 AM

If we're playing cards while we wait for phals to bloom, count me in (Maryland)... ever since I learned to tell a newly growing root tip from a spike tip, I pay tons of attention to all my plants in December... and then the weeks just creep along... now, my phals are all in spike but it's soooo slow. The good part is that other things now bloom in those painful waiting periods of December and January... and it won't be long before the NCOS auction (March 1)!

Nancy · #11 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 07:40 AM

Wow! A fellow Marylander! Where do you usually buy your plants. There's a greenhouse I usually go to located in Carney, Maryland. It's called The Little Greenhouse of all things. The prices seem fair and the plants in good condition. Most impressive to me is the fact that they've received AOS awards on their plants. Any plant bearing the clonal name 'Harford' comes from their greenhouse. Thanks for the chat. Experastu, how do you get your phal leaves so shiney?

exasperatus2002 · #12 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:31 AM

What I do is I keep my Phals on the plant stand with the leaves hanging down since their so long. I dont mist them I just give them a good soaking and then let them dry out between soakings. Potting mixture is a mix of bark and some moss. They are in a southern exposure. They have thick roots that are growing every which way and out the bottom of the pot, round the pot and back up the pot. When I finally get to repot them, which will be in seperate pots, I'm going to have to take a hammer to their pot to get them out safely. hammer = safe...who'd have thunk?

rmt135 · #13 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:37 AM

Correct if I am wrong. Is there 02 Phals in the pot? What is the size of the pot so that both can be planted nicely?

exasperatus2002 · #14 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 10:00 AM

I think its a 10" pot but it might be 12". Heres an over head pic when the spikes were first found.

rmt135 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 11:35 AM

Did any of the leaves dry up (old age) & being replace with new one or those leaves really from the beginning & grow bigger?

exasperatus2002 · #16 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 12:41 PM

Ive had some leaves dry up which were promptly replaced with new ones.

rmt135 · #17 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 12:48 PM

I do not own any Phal before but one kind nursery worker gave me 02 Phals for try out. Thats the reason I have been reading & asking around.

Thanks Exasperatus2002 for the info.

exasperatus2002 · #18 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 01:13 PM

No problem rmt135. You should never be afraid to ask something even if it sounds odd.

Nancy · #19 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 10:36 AM

Since you are growing these phals so well, I thought you would be the one to ask. I don't have a lot of experience with phals and especially with phal spikes. I have buds on two of mine. I was wondering when the buds take on color. I thought they'd stay green and then become colorful when well along. Mine are very small and have taken on a red coloring. I'm a little concerned about them blasting. Is color normal when the bud is only about a quarter of an inch in size?

phalaephila · #20 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 02:13 PM

What color will the flower be? Actually, I don't know why I asked that. I have a phal in spike right now, the flowers will open a cream color with a deep pink lip. The buds are still developing on the current spike, and the smallest ones are quite red. They are getting a bit paler as they age and grow. In fact, all of my young phal buds have some red hue to them. Perhaps it is due to the intensity of light? Everything's healthy, no problem. I believe you have nothing to worry about.

jeanne

Debbie Hayden · #21 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 04:43 PM

The bud blast that I have seen is mostly yellow with some red. They look a little on the dry side, too. Anyway, when it happens it's pretty evident that it's bud blast. Just go to Wal-mart and look at the ones they have had for over 2 weeks. You'll see what I mean!

**articuno75** · #22 (**permalink**) 01-10-2008, 07:01 PM

If they look a little dry, then it's blasting. Humidity might be a factor too. Might check the levels.

rmt135 · #23 (**permalink**) 01-11-2008, 08:01 PM

What is the average time frame from the time it spike till it boom?

Sharyn · #24 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmt135

What is the average time frame from the time it spike till it boom?

From my own experience, most of my phals flower about 4 months after the spike starts. They stay in flower for 6-12 weeks (usually & sometimes rebloom off the same spike). Your growing conditions are much warmer than mine so you may get flowers sooner.

On another note, I've had spikes stall on me and remain dormant for many months before forming buds. I'm not sure if there's any set time period from spike to bloom. Perhaps others can weigh in on this.