When do Phals bloom normally?

[dannym4243]

So many of my friends and myself included buy Phals at the big box stores in full bloom. I was told that in many cases they were forced. My question is this when do Phals bloom normally without forcing?
Thanks
Danny

[Kelo]

Depends on the type; hybrid or species. I have several hybrids in bloom for the second time this year and I have several species coming into bloom too.

[Bud]

The species bloom only once a year (youre lucky if it blooms twice in a span of a year) they usually bloom when they feel the cold(fall/winter)...the hybrids bloom whenever they can...sometimes 4 times a year and some of them bloom from the same spike so before the first bloom ends the new spike appears...so you might have blooms all year...its not true that you force orchids to bloom(theres one Phal I have and it is sulking: no matter what trick I did it didnt bloom this season)...you can trick them into feeling the cold so even in the midst of summer if you put them in a 65F degree temp indoors at night and 80F in day...it will spike.

[quiltergal]

Hi Danny. Most hybrid orchids purchased from big box stores should be initiating spikes right about now IF they are healthy enough to bloom.

Some of the species Phals do bloom in the summer, some whenever they feel like it!

If your culture is not good a plant will not bloom no matter what you do to "trick" it. It must have enough stored energy to remain healthy and bloom at the same time.

[tucker85]

I agree with both the previous posts. Most of the large hybrid phals will spike when the weather turns cool. They can bloom without a drop in temperature but cooler nights will encourage blooming. Some of the smaller phals that bloom sequentially (a couple of flowers at a time) often start blooming in early summer and continue to bloom for many months. Commercial growers make their orchids spike by lowering the temperature in the greenhouse.