Quote Originally Posted by Chris1140 View Post
Jenn I think that Phals drop buds when there is a change in conditions (such as bringing it home) while the spike is developing. Also I think species Phals are more fussy than hybrids generally. Once you've had the plant awhile, it well likely adapt to your conditions and should bloom well for you next time.
Ahhh, thanks! I did notice that this plant was much more sensitive to things like humidity and light than my hybrids. This is my first species phal to bloom for me, so I was QUITE excited!! But yeah, the buds started dropping, then I put the clay pot inside a cache pot and it perked up within 24 hours, and buds were continuing as normal. Then they started dropping again, and I realized that we had had a week with very little sun, so I quickly put the plant under my grow lights, and it proceeded as normal again.

My hybrids don't seem to care much about humidity or light...they spike and bloom reliably whenever they feel like it, but with this one I felt like the "orchid whisperer." Every other moment I was going..."Oh no...what's the matter now?" I'm going to repot it when it's done blooming into a pot that holds humidity better, as it seems to really want lots of it! And I'll make sure it gets lots of light, as it got droopy during our week of cloudiness. But hey, at least I'll know what to do next time, and if you all are correct about the blooms' form improving as the plant matures, hopefully next time it will put on a splendid show!

Thanks for the reassurance. I really appreciate it!