Phal temperature for blooming

[Uh oh now addicted]

Hello everyone, first ever post! Sorry if it's a bit long but I wanted to give you some background on the plant and its conditions.

I am now addicted to phals, currently I have 15 in various stages of growth. Fairly sure I'll be out on the street if I buy any more but that's another story...

The one that started all this is my question. Healthy phal has grown leaves and roots over the last year since I took over its care. It was in bloom when given (not to me) as a house warming present 2.5 years ago. About a year ago I got sick of looking at it covered in dust with 2 dead flower spikes, I had no experience with orchids (I grow roses) but had a quick Google, moved it to a brighter location, cut the flower spikes and dusted it. It wasn't neglected as such, just left alone! Not dehydrated as watered occasionally and generally it was fine.

At the beginning of the year it grew a new leaf and I just found it fascinating, started reading more and more, and...well...you know how it goes! Bought some new medium and a bigger pot, re-potted it, started fertilising it, and it has since grown another new leaf and some new roots. Really can't find any issues with it to mention.

However I know it hasn't bloomed since it was first bought 2.5 years ago, so I'm hoping it will bloom this year, especially since it's now healthier and hopefully happier than it was, but I don't know that my temperatures are helping.

It was in the dining room which faces west, and since autumn started it's got quite gloomy in there, bearing in mind our fairly crummy UK weather, so I've moved it to an east facing window sill for brighter light (only has direct sun very early in the morning, as in 6/7am) so I think the light is ok. But I bought a temperature and humidity monitor on Thursday, which is showing me the temperatures are changing between 17.9C in the day and 16.6C at night (no idea of farenheit sorry). The heating isn't on yet so it's pretty much the same all the time.

So my question: although the temperature is cold enough to induce a spike, is it not fluctuating enough from day to night? I know the commercial nurseries have a "cooling" period to induce flowering but I'm not anywhere near that level! So is it day/night fluctuations or just general temperature that will hopefully start a spike? I just really really really want this phal to flower!!

Thank you in advance for reading the ramble and for any help or suggestions!

[Ray]

First of all, not all phalaenopsis rely on temperature to initiate spiking. If it is a standard white phal though, it likely does.

Next, you must realize that it is not a drop in nighttime temperature that does, it is a decrease in the average growing temperature that matters.

Specifically, the plants do best when grown very warm, but will not reliably initiate a flower spike until they have experienced ten days to two weeks of an average temperature of about 6 to 10C lower.

[Uh oh now addicted]

Thank you! That's just what I wanted to know, and gives me some hope, as the temperature was about 22 - 24C up to about a week or two ago. I have no idea what colour it is, when I asked I was told "I think it was white but it could be yellow, I can't remember, it's a plant" which is supremely helpful.

Fingers crossed it produces a spike, now I just have to stop peering at it three (hundred) times a day.

[Ray]

Once it has been exposed to the lower temperature for the full duration, move it back to warmer conditions, so it will grow and bloom better.

[Uh oh now addicted]

I'm hoping the heating will be on by then so it should coincide - tempted to insist the heating stays off a bit longer just to make sure. I mean who doesn't want to watch TV wearing a hat and coat? (I'm kidding, it's not that cold!)

Thank you for your reply Ray, also I find your website a great resource, it was a huge help in the way I fertilise my orchids and they're all happy now, even the rescue ones from the supermarket that I just couldn't leave there in that state, so thank you for that!

[realoldbeachbum]

Welcome UONA! I understand your addiction. Little over 3 years ago, I got my first orchid and now have well over 100. Totally addicted now.

You found the right place for great orchid advice. Happy growing! ROBB

[Uh oh now addicted]

Thank you! Looking forward to learning lots as my addiction grows!

[Roberta]

For what it is worth, this was my "early career" experience with Phals... I had them in the house, in a room that got about 4 hours of good morning light, then it was indirect as the sun shifted. Growing, no blooming. I got some very cheap fluorescent shop lights (this was some years ago, before LEDs were available, LED lights would be even better since they are cooler and more economical), put them on a timer to give the plants 12 hours a day of good light. I ended up with about 80% reblooming! Supplementing the daylight to give them more duration (not a lot of intensity) is what did the trick. I didn't do anything to manipulate the temperature (The house was just cooler as what passes for a southern California winter set in) So for me, it was increasing light duration that did the trick.

[Uh oh now addicted]

Thanks Roberta. I may have given the wrong impression - this orchid was quite... I don't want to say neglected because it wasn't, it was just sort of ignored! It was in a very dark corner of a gloomy room, covered in dust and watered occasionally with the remains of a night time glass of water - which apparently did no harm but it wasn't as looked after as it could have been. I think it just existed, no real growth. When I took it over from about this time last year and moved it somewhere brighter and paid it some attention it started to grow new leaves and roots. I wouldn't say it really grey at all before that. So I was hoping now it may spike.

Funnily enough when I read about the light requirements I did buy some LED grow lights! My plan was to start using them when the clocks go back next weekend so I can prolong the light they all get - the room it's in now is where some of the others are and is upstairs so bright light but not direct sun except for the early morning. The others are in no direct sun at all as it would be too much in the summer, but now it's more dull in the UK (I envy your weather!) I've put this one in the window for maximum light. I'm glad my thinking was along the right lines! I might start using the lights now then just in case - it might stop anyone noticing when my new orchid arrives...I only wanted a new pot...truly addicted...

[Roberta]

My lights were very visible when approaching my condo - the room where the plants were located was ablaze far into the evening. I am surprised that I didn't have police knocking at my door wondering what I was growing.