Phal fert question - Page 3 - Orchid Board

Celtic100 · #1 12-14-2015, 08:35 AM

I have made every attempt to provide temp differential and I may have succeeded as I think I might have a spike. Don't know what else that little thing could be. Hope it can get out from under that leaf. I also followed the fertilizing instructions some of you provided and maybe that's made a difference. Anyway, sure hope it's a spike. Never had a phal bloom and have discarded many beauties due to that sad fact. Thanks for all your help.

wintergirl · #2 12-14-2015, 09:44 AM

Looks like a spike, good work.

No-Pro-mwa · #3 12-14-2015, 02:13 PM

Looks like a spike to me, congrats.

Celtic100 · #4 01-02-2016, 06:02 PM

I am going to revive this old thread so as to keep it all together. Anyway, since I've not been able to re-bloom my phals (ever!), I am not familiar as to how the spike should emerge. I am posting a picture to show how my spike looks. Will it be able to come out from under that leaf and grow a bit taller? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Ray · #5 01-02-2016, 06:07 PM

It'll be fine.

MattWoelfsen · #6 01-02-2016, 06:13 PM

Phalaenopsis flower spikes grow like your plant. At a certain time, when it is long enough, you can gently install a wooden stake into the pot, placing it on either side of the leaf, and carefully hook the flower spike to the stake.

My preference is to keep it un-staked. What I also do is to place the plant so that the spike starts growing towards the light, and keep the plant in that position. It will eventually grow out from under the leaves.

Celtic100 · #7 01-03-2016, 07:58 AM

ok great. Wasn't sure if it was going to keep growing sideways as it emerges more fully. Thanks for the tips.

PaphLover · #8 01-03-2016, 11:49 AM

Congratulations! So exciting to have a first spike!

estación seca · #9 01-03-2016, 11:56 AM

Then there's the clumsiness factor. I can break spikes while staking them. I can also break spikes I didn't stake because I was afraid I'd break them. Maybe I should start a new Orchid Board social group - Spikeslayers.

Celtic100 · #10 01-18-2016, 12:09 PM

Thanks to all. The spike is emerging nicely but I do fret that I too will become a Spikeslayer. Funny...sort of. Anyway, new question regarding the phal exposure to sun. It seems that many scream loudly to NEVER let sun onto them. I have a sunny southern exposure window and it seems in the low winter sunlight, it would be ok to do. The orchid sits back about 3 feet from window and I do it for just a short time. What is the board's thoughts regarding this. Thanks.