Kaleidoscope won't bloom!

[renata]

hi, folks!
I have a Phal. Baldan's Kaleidoscope 'Golden Treasure', but despite the healthy look of the plant, it's been two years without any flowers (since the purchase)....I bought it in bloom (first time), and small...Water every time is needed, alternate Peter's 10-30-20 and 30-10-20, because it is in bark and charcoal mix...No direct light...
what am I doing wrong??
thanks for helping!!!!!!!!!!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I bought one a couple of years ago and it came in spike. Second winter, it was way behind, as a friend bought another Phal at the same time/place in spike, and hers had already opened its flowers, with no spikes visible on my plant. I moved it to the floor of my GH, and put it at the south end where it would get high light thru the south wall, and a few weeks later spikes appeared, and it was returned to its usual location. This winter it bloomed with no extra encouragement. Triggers to bloom are lowered temp (55F), higher light (feel the leaves, luke warm or a little higher is OK), and short days (maybe a closet with a light on a timer?).

[norris]

It seems like you're doing things right, and you have a healthy plant (can you post a pic?)I would increase the light and see if that helps.

[bkim]

From what I've read, phals will spike with a 20 degree variance in temperature. That is how nurseries are able to produce spiking phals year round.

[kid a]

Yes, I know several of the commercial growers that supply wholesale to places like Kroger and Meijier with Phals cool their phals to initiate spiking before selling. I think this is why you can a find a phal in bloom year round at some of the larger places. They have cooling systems that will drop the temps enough for them to spike. Most people, unless your talking about us geeks, only buy in spike and most places that aren't greenhouses only sell in spike, once the flowers are gone they are marked down. I have not had a phal respike yet either only from the already existing spent spikes.

[Hummer344]

Cooling was my first thought. I had the same problem for a long time and had given up on phals until I learned that they need a nice cool night to get them to spike. Mine are outside for the summer and will stay out until around Nov 1. Our late falls are warm days and cold nights.(not down in the 30's, maybe mid 40's). That seems to do the trick. about 90% of my phals spike with this treatment.

[renata]

Hi everyone!!!!!!
thanks for every reply,
here's a picture of the plant, except for the leaf with sunburn, all the other look ok, what do you think?
I also think the roots look nice...
Here in Brasília, the winter is starting and minimum night temperatures are around 12-15 ºC (º F ??), so I hope this will start some spikes...In terms of fertilizer, should I use only 10-30-20 to induce flowering?? This year I started using Superthrive, does it help flowering?
So many doubts, thanks for your patience!!!!!!!

[kid a]

Superthrive is wonderful! It helps with growths and vitamins it think. I am not sure exactly what it would do to help with flowering other than giving it some more vitamins. I use it every watering with worm tea and the results now versus before I was using it is more growth and healthier plants. It does have some great roots and a new leaf growth so it looks like you are doing a good job. I think it may just need some cooler temps to spike. I think this is why mine have not respiked too.

[renata]

Dear kid a,
what is worm tea?? I read other threads about it but didn't get it...
Maybe it's a silly question, but I'm curious.....
Where can I find it?
Guess I'll google it, hehehe..
As to my Phal I'll try to put it next to the window, maybe the cold breeze helps, huh?
Thanks!!!!!!!

[kid a]

It pretty much worm poo! It works well though. I think Jerry explained in one thread that inoculates the medium to help prevent fungus or something. I am not sure how available it would be in Brazil though.

[renata]

Hehehe, ok, I got it, we have this here, although it's not easy to find comercial preparations....Good to know this! thanks, maybe I'll try it!!!!!!!!

[Greenhouse Gal]

Renata,

Originally Posted by renata

Here in Brasília, the winter is starting and minimum night temperatures are around 12-15 ºC (º F ??)

53.6 - 59 F
So if that is your night temp and your day temp is around 23 -26 C that should trigger bloom.

I think your plant looks very healthy and if you don't ask you don't learn.
Good luck.

Anybody looking for a good conversion site:

Online Conversion - Convert just about anything to anything else

[renata]

Thanks, Greenhouse Gal!!
Yesterday I've moved the plant closer to the night breeze, let's see what happens!!!!!!!
See Ya!