blooming cycles

[nyortiga]

Oh Thank you for your advise.

My phal is potted, it was gifted to me last Feb with blooms but now they have withered. I hope I can get them to bloom again. It is left in our "lanai" with a few minutes of direct morning sun at around 8am. The temperature is around 30-35C during the day then drops to mid 20's at night.

As of now, there are new leaves coming out, which means healthy roots. I have to repot, though, because it is in a plastic pot with only one drainage hole in the bottom. I'm thinking of transferring to a clay pot with side holes.
Bark medium is not too common here. Growers here use charcoal or coconut husk chips.

Any comments regarding this medium?

Nancy

[orchid_killer]

Oh Thank you for your advise.

My phal is potted, it was gifted to me last Feb with blooms but now they have withered. I hope I can get them to bloom again. It is left in our "lanai" with a few minutes of direct morning sun at around 8am. The temperature is around 30-35C during the day then drops to mid 20's at night.

As of now, there are new leaves coming out, which means healthy roots. I have to repot, though, because it is in a plastic pot with only one drainage hole in the bottom. I'm thinking of transferring to a clay pot with side holes.
Bark medium is not too common here. Growers here use charcoal or coconut husk chips.

Any comments regarding this medium?

Nancy

That's what my mom uses for the cattleyas - both charcoal and coconut husk mixed together.

[orchidlady]

Most Phals bloom about once a year. The majority of mine start in Dec. and go to about now. That is typical of most hybrids. I do have some species that bloom whenever they feel like it, and it can be any time and sometimes more than once a year.

Susan

[nyortiga]

Hi again!
Its January and my phal has no sign of spikes. This is the time of year when temperatures in Manila are coolest at night. However, lately it has only gone as low as 26 deg C. So I was thinking of transferring the phal every night to our airconditioned bedroom where the temp reaches 21 deg. Becky mentioned this drop should go on for around 2-3 months, so would it be ok to keep moving the plant every night in and out? Anyhow is it worth a try?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi again!
Its January and my phal has no sign of spikes. This is the time of year when temperatures in Manila are coolest at night. However, lately it has only gone as low as 26 deg C. So I was thinking of transferring the phal every night to our airconditioned bedroom where the temp reaches 21 deg. Becky mentioned this drop should go on for around 2-3 months, so would it be ok to keep moving the plant every night in and out? Anyhow is it worth a try?

Might try that. I have heard of people using very cool water when watering too.

Cheers,
BD

[nyortiga]

Thanks, Bruce! Will keep you posted for any developments..

[delphiguy]

Hi again!
Its January and my phal has no sign of spikes. This is the time of year when temperatures in Manila are coolest at night. However, lately it has only gone as low as 26 deg C. So I was thinking of transferring the phal every night to our airconditioned bedroom where the temp reaches 21 deg. Becky mentioned this drop should go on for around 2-3 months, so would it be ok to keep moving the plant every night in and out? Anyhow is it worth a try?

It worth a try, but I'd be careful tho, as moving the plant daily might stress it due to changes in conditions... most specifically
Humidity, you have to remember that AC takes out the humidity. How big is your phal? maybe its not big enough to bloom yet, if it is
then I'd just wait a bit more as this is the coldest time of the year for us. But of course this is just me, its still up to you.
good luck

[nyortiga]

It worth a try, but I'd be careful tho, as moving the plant daily might stress it due to changes in conditions... most specifically
Humidity, you have to remember that AC takes out the humidity. How big is your phal? maybe its not big enough to bloom yet, if it is
then I'd just wait a bit more as this is the coldest time of the year for us. But of course this is just me, its still up to you.
good luck

Thanks, Randy. I was thinking of that stress so was doubtful. The Phal was gifted to me last year with blooms. That time the leaves were only 6 inches long, now the latest leaf is almost a foot long. Is that a good or bad sign? Read somewhere that the leaf span was an indicator of bloom maturity.