Spikes in June????

[Laura]

I have been raising orchids for some 15 years and always around January MY Phalaenopsis start too flower, I am a windowsill grower... with about 100 orchids 12 of them are Phalaenopsis. They summer outside in my southwest Missouri Patio. This year the weather has been well... from a ice storm in Jan that left us without power for 12 days... To a hard freeze in April that lasted 2 weeks and killed everything that was growing outside.
To warm days now with rain lots of rain but still the nights are cool. The orchids are all very happy growing outside; they might like to dry out just a bit especially the Cattleyas... but the reason I am posting this is the Phalaenopsis, I have one Phalaenopsis that is a summer bloomer and it is flowering now, it’s red and it smells so good
All the rest of my Phalaenopsis all bloom for me in the winter... And yes they flowered last winter. 4 of the 12 Phalaenopsis are setting a spike here in June.. One of them started in about May and it has buds now the other 3 are about 6 inches long now, these are new spikes not a spike off the old spike.. I have never had my Phalaenopsis grow a spike this time of year. All of these 4 are very old Phalaenopsis some of the very first ones I got when I started growing orchids. Now this is not a complaint after all flowers is the reason we grow orchids... I was just wondering if anyone ever had this happen to them. And is it something that was caused by the cool nights and warm days and lots of rain that we are experiencing in Missouri.

[Mehera]

Well, I don't know how normal it is, but 4 or 5 of my phals that bloomed last winter are sending up new spikes again. I figure if they're willing, so am I. They are sending out new leaves too.

[Laura]

Well, I don't know how normal it is, but 4 or 5 of my phals that bloomed last winter are sending up new spikes again. I figure if they're willing, so am I. They are sending out new leaves too.

yes mine are sending out new leaves too one of them now has 10 leaves it is very old. it is one of the big white Phal. just love it some of mine are still in flower from the winter too, but are just about to drop all the flowers.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Most of our phals bloom in the spring. We see spikes in early to middle Feb and then blooms for several months. Sometimes they will send up another spike 'out of season', but I figure that is what the plants wants to do. I would think it probably does have something to do with the temps and the fertilizer and water, but that is just an educated guess. I am not sure why they do what they do other than they are happy or stressed. LOL.

Congratulations on the new spikes! I hope you will share some of your beautiful photos when they bloom.

Cheers,
BD

[clintdawley]

I have several phals that I trick out of season by leaving them outside in the spring for a couple of months with warm days and nights...then I'll bring them inside in my VERY cool house (night temps of around 65) and they're tricked into spiking again in July/August. I have Phal blooms like that in Oct/November. The really healthy ones seem more apt to spike out of season, probably because they have more energy and more robust plants tend to spike, grow roots, and grow new leaves at the same time.

[Diane]

I too have several phals in spike now.

[Laura]

I guess being a windowsill grower, is why my Phal’s flower in January, as I let them stay outside in the fall, till it gets to cold. Then they come inside to a warm house. So they got that cooling down in Oct and what is it 13 weeks after they are cooled they set spikes, and flower. Something like that can’t member for sure... and then in the spring I will set them back outside when the temps warms enough. But this year the days are warm and the nights were cooler anyway it was earlier in the spring... No telling what July will be like. So if you can give your Phal’s that cool night time temp one could have Phal’s’ in flower any time of year? Hummmm.
Clintdawley …I would freeze if my house was 65... We keep our at 75 to 80 in the winter guess we are cold blooded ha and it has to get pretty hot for us to turn the air on in the summer time.
O yes I will for sure post the photos.
Thanks for the info.. This is the best site…

[JUDIUK]

My phal Primrose petals is in full bloom, but last week I noticed it's throwing another spike (yippee!) I like to think it's happy! Judi

[Shaydra]

I can't afford the electric bill if I turned my AC down to 65! Not to mention I'd have to wear a sweat suit to bed at night... Brrrrrr!!! I'm happy to sleep at 74-78 tyvm. (And my boyfriend doesn't understand how I can be under an afghan while he sweats rivers under just a sheet.)

[Cjcorner]

You all about five degrees too cold! I keep my a/c at 82. I have bad bones and I love it when it's 94 outside and HOT enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk. Makes me feel great and makes my orchids grow like crazy.
Connie