Crying emoji! (lack of success with longtime Phals)

[gingersmommy]

Hi, I have about 16 phals (love the phals), for about seven years now. Anyway, my phals haven't bloomed for approx. four years. I had a bought of serious mealys and treated them for months with holistic treatment (alcohol and soap, etc.). Kept coming back with a vengence. Finally I sprayed them with Bayer and that took care of it. I swear, I don't know what I am doing wrong - probably overwatering for one thing (although I think I am doing better with that now) as the roots are dark and rotted when I repot. Anyway, for about four months now I have them in a room with a portable heater I purchased which I keep at 74, and a portable humidifier that I bought that is set pretty high. They get good light (although I am going to put the shade down as I think too much). I have also been watering them for about 2 months with distilled water that I add a diluted orchid fertilizer to that my sister gave me (her orchids to great! - she does a lot of research and has different kinds), and this stuff from rePotme that is like a probiotic. I am also adjusting the pH. I have been turning off the heater at night since 12/20/17. It gets down to about 58-60. Then I turn it back on in the morning. I water once a week by soaking for about five minutes each and draining completely. If this doesn't work, I seriously don't know what I am going to do. I will just resign myself to having green houseplants. Sorry guys, but it has been years and years with no success. I feel like tossing all my struggling orchids (I have 4-5 that seem to be somewhat robust - but not blooming) and starting fresh. Some of them are getting lots of air roots and look vigorous since the heater and humidity and new water. I repotted over the summer in bark, clay pieces, that white sponge rock (premium mix from rePotme).

[Lucille]

I don't know nuthin but my guess is that you might not have as much light as you think.

[gingersmommy]

Originally Posted by Lucille

I don't know nuthin but my guess is that you might not have as much light as you think.

Hi Lucille, they are flush to a south window and it is very bright (although it is winter here - usually cloud cover). One of my new leave has a red cast, which I read from someone indicates too much light. Do you get your orchids to bloom?

[JScott]

What medium are they potted in?

[gingersmommy]

Hi, I use rePotme Monterey Dark Imperial Orchi Mix with:
Medium Orchiata Monterey Pine Bark
Hydroton
Large Sponge Rock
AAA New Zealand Sphagnum Moss (very little)

[JScott]

That's a good potting mix, and I think it would be difficult to overwater in that, but if the roots are rotten when you repot, then it might be the case that you are watering too much. Even by a south window, if your winters are cloudy and gray, you may not be getting enough light, and supplementing with artificial light would be beneficial. I also keep my Phals by a south window in the winter, but our winters in Oklahoma are pretty clear and sunny and the plants get some direct sun almost every day. I probably have about ten Phals and they are all in spike right now.

[Leafmite]

Now that you have changed everything to amend your conditions, give them a little time to recover. Phals react rather slowly so patience is required. In the meantime, get a few new plants/orchids to keep yourself busy.

Most of the Phals that can be found at big box stores require a drop in temperatures for a couple of weeks (not below 60'F) to induce blooming. Good luck!

[gingersmommy]

Originally Posted by JScott

I probably have about ten Phals and they are all in spike right now.

That is so awesome!!! 2018 is going to be my year!!!

I am attached to all of them and am constantly hovering over them. I usually go in their room at least twice a day to check on them. Will send picks of my set-up.

Checked on them at lunchtime and the sun was shining on them so I adjusted the blind a little.

[JScott]

Originally Posted by gingersmommy

That is so awesome!!! 2018 is going to be my year!!!

Definitely! You're gonna get it this time!

[Roberta]

gingersmommy -

How many hours a day do those phals get good natural light? When I started out growing orchids, of course there were lots of Phals (one of the primary gateway drugs to the orchid addiction) I turned the spare bedroom of my condo into a "greenhouse" for the phals. They got about 4 hours a day of good east light, then the sun shifted and the light was indirect. No flowers. I got the cheapest fluorescent shop lights from Home Depot (LEDs didn't exist at that time), put them on a timer for 12 hours per day. and bingo, I got nearly 80% reblooming! Not a lot of light intensity (Phals don't like a lot of intensity anyway) but the magic ingredient was DURATION... 12 hours a day every day. LED lights that are available are a lot more efficient than those fluoresecents were . But the concept is the same. Supplement the daylight to give them the extra hours that they need.