Phals will NOT spike!

[jasolano]

I have the same issue with two phals. One of them finished blooming over a year and a half ago, so I cut the spike down to the base after it turned yellow. I tried a few things here and there. I left it out over the summer, and it started growing a leaf out of the side where you'd expect a spike to emerge from... strange since I thought they sprout leaves from the the top. during these colder months I put them in the basement where they also grew some new roots, but thats about it. looking for some insight. Thanks everyone!

[Miller]

I found an article on what commercial growers do. I followed the instructions and have my first phal spike growing now. Don't know if I can post the link but if you private message me I will be happy to pass along.

Miller

[Carolla]

I have several in spike as houseplants, though I am not as expert in why they are spiking as many here. Some of them have been under florescent lights, one has come into spike every winter sitting in my east window. Our house is 5 - 10 degrees cooler in the winter than the summer. My plants are not as dark a green as the ones in the pictures, but I can't say they are getting too much light either. I do have mine potted in a medium orchid bark mix, to which I've added about 25% sphagnum moss just mixed in. I use the moss because its so dry here and I only water every 10 days or so (rarely shorter). I I usually soak them in the sink when I water with a little fertilizer. Our conditions are about 20% humidity year round - maybe they like it a bit on the dry side compared to many other orchids? I don't think my conditions are normal for most houses, so I don't know how helpful that will be.

[phraggy]

I might add that if you are using sphagnum moss for potting,like I do, then the simple method is ---
1) If the roots are large like phals then don't pack tightly--they require more air than water.
2) small rooted orchids can be packed tighter to hold more water,

Ed

[Chris1140]

I agree, the first thing to look at is are they getting enough light. If yes then they need to be exposed to a temp drop at night in the fall to initiate spikes. I open the window and close the heating vent every night in the orchid room, and continue this treatment until all the plants have initiated spikes. The temp gets down to 55-60f at night. This year it took until Thanksgiving.

[gerardhp1998]

i think it is kinda dry, maybe you need to water them.
This is my method for Phals to grow spikes :
1) In VN, when i want the Phal to grow spike, i reduce the amount of water. ( For example, i usually water my Phals three times a week since it is kinda hot in VN. So i will now only water them 2 times a week or even once a week.)
2) Also, i increase the sunlight a little bit.
3) I fertilize it with a higher level of Potassium like grow more 6:30:30 or 12:0:40 or 10:20:30. I usually use 1/2 teaspoons and dissolve it in 4 litres of water and fertilize once a week. ) but that was when i first knew how to grow Phals. Now i use slow-release fertilizer, it worked . i recommend you to use slow-release fertilizer.
i hope this help )

[Chris1140]

It's interesting the challenges/methods for growing are so different in different climates and also growing indoors vs. outside. When I first started growing Phals indoors I got plenty of new leaves and roots but no spikes. A grower told me to reduce the night temp. for several weeks in the fall. I've been doing it ever since
and all of my Phals spike every year. Growing in a greenhouse or outdoors you naturally get a temperature drop, and so other considerations come into play. I guess everyone should figure out what works best for their
particular conditions.

[jai_star]

I believe the initation of spikes are different in the tropics, there it's triggered by monsoon or dry season. For us in temperate climates it is the temperate diurnal that triggers their blooms.

[gerardhp1998]

But you could do them all together ( the changes of temperature, fertilizer, reduce water...) and see what happen ) i tried it once with my Phals on the balcony including the changes of temperature. There were storms in October and November so it got hot in the morning and really cool at night so i guess that's that