Hello, needing help flowering my phallies in Melbourne?

[EMos]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and I have been growing orchids for a number of years successfully in a tropical environment, but since moving to Melbourne, I find it difficult to get my phalaenopsis to bloom here, need some suggestions. Thanks - E.M

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Eric, welcome to our community. Phals should bloom for you in Melborne. I suspect they are not getting enough light. Where are you growing them? Give us some of your culture details such as amount of light, temperature, watering and feeding schedule for your orchids and hopefully we can help you get them blooming again.

Cheers,
BD

[EMos]

Hi BD, thank you for welcoming me and for the message of hope…
I grow my orchids indoors in front of a North facing window (maximum sunlight in the southern hemisphere).
Min/max temperature now in winter indoors is between 16 – 20 degree celsius.(60-68 F).Summer temp is bet 24 – 30 deg Celsius (75-86 F)
I’ve been feeding my orchids with a high nitrogen fertiliser during summer and changed to a high potassium one late autumn. I’ve stopped feeding them now. Watering: once a week in winter and twice in summer. Light may be an issue, as in summer the window is completely shaded by the awning, but in winter it receives more light althouth the weather is quite dull at the moment!!. I hope that the above information will give you an idea of my growing condition, and help you with some suggestions.

[margo]

Welcome to our group, Eric! Glad to have you join us!!!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Eric,

I believe from what you have said here that it is a light issue (9 out of 10 times light is the number one reason an orchid that used to bloom is not blooming). I suggest you up the light levels. When spring and summer roll around for you, maybe some supplemental light will give you better results. The temp shift is good, though some phals need to get much cooler in the winter to bloom.

Cheers,
BD

[bedt]

Welcome Eric.............

[bench72]

Hi Eric, first off, welcome to Orchidtalk.

Now what's this about trying to grow Phalaenopsis in Melbourne... you're a sucker for punishment hehehe... just kidding mate.

I'm no expert on Phallies, so I'll let the experts do the care suggestions...

cheers
tim

[EMos]

Thank you Tim, Bozzie, Margo and BD, I feel really welcomed, and as it's a new experience for me on a forum, I don't feel lost.
I believe you're absolutely right BD, I've been trying to increase the light by bringing the plants closer to the window, but it's mostly in the growing season that the light level is lowest. I will try to adjust that.
I'm attaching two pics, one is where I grow my orchids now, and the other one (to thank you), is my Phal.Sogo Yukidian, which bloomed when I was still living in Mru a few years ago.

Cheerio

[Roy]

Hi Eric, first off, welcome to Orchidtalk.

Now what's this about trying to grow Phalaenopsis in Melbourne... you're a sucker for punishment hehehe... just kidding mate.
cheers
tim

Hey Tim, thems fightn' words !!!!!! hehehehehe

[Brutal_Dreamer]

You have a really nice collection of plants, Eric! And your phal Sogo Yukidian is stunning. Good luck with the light levels.

Cheers,
BD