No New Flower Stems

[cathysue]

Hi

I've had three moth orchids for several years. All three are together on a table and they get the same amount of light, fertilizer, water and temperature. One always produces a new stem and flowers, but the other two do not. They produce new leaves and wonderful root growth, but no flower stems. I had repotted them awhile ago and they look very healthy, but would love for them to flower. Any suggestions?

Cathysue

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Cathysue,

Most of the time when an orchid isn't blooming (and it is mature enough to bloom) is is due to lack of adequate light. Since you say your orchids are all growing well and that one is blooming but two are not, I am going to recommend that you give the two that are not blooming a 'cool down' period.

Some phals need to have a temp drop of at least ten degrees at night to initiate a spike. Once they spike, they can be grown in their normal location. If you were growing in a greenhouse, they might get that drop as part of a normal winter/ spring temp change. But, since you grow indoors, most people keep their homes around the same temp during the day and night, so our orchids that need that temp drop do not get it.

What can you do? Well, depending on where you live, if it is still cool outside (not below 40 degrees Fahrenheit) you could move your phals outside for a while. If it is possible they would get frost bite, then another trick some growers use is to move their indoor orchids next to a window at night and close a heavy curtain around them to keep the warmth of the room away from the orchid and the coolness of the outside near the orchid.

Whatever you decide to do, remember your phals cannot tolerate direct sun. Be sure to keep them or move them again before they get direct sun.

If it is not a cool down issue and is a light issue. (A photo of the leaves of the plant can help the members here offer their opinions on that) just increasing the light (causing a little stress to the very happily growing phal) will sometimes cause it to spike. If it is totally happy, it may not spike because it has no reason to reproduce.

Good luck to you.

Cheers,
BD

[pavel]

You might also try giving the two nonbloomers more light. Even amongst an orchid alliance there can be a variation in light desired.

One "tweak" I would give to Bruce's comment about no direct sun .... I would say no direct hot sun (generally that's mainly in the afternoon but can vary by where you live). I have phals that do get direct sun -- but only early morning or late evening sun -- and they have been fine.

[cathysue]

Thanks Brutal Dreamer and Pavel for an answer to my question.

I just put them outside for a while. I live in upstate NY and the temps are still fluctuating at night..sometimes in the 30's and other times in the 50's. Tonight's temp is supposed to be 35 so I'll bring them back in later. I'll take some pix of them and attempt to upload them so you can see what the leaves look like.

Thanks again for your help.

Cathysue

[cathysue]

Hi again

As requested, I'm going to attempt to attach a picture of my flowering orchid and the two that have never produced a new stem.

Cathysue

[Brutal_Dreamer]

It is a light issue, Cathysue. Your orchids, especially the one in the yellow pot, are very dark green. You need to gradually increase the light. The one in the yellow container: Does it have a drain in the bottom? It looks a bit wilted like it might have root rot issues too.

Ease these orchids into more light. Your leaves appear very dark and as they get more light they should become lighter green.

Good luck.

cheers,
BD

[cathysue]

Thanks so much for your advice. They all do have drain holes, but I'll definitely give them more light. I had no idea you could tell so much from the color of the leaves...I thought dark green meant healthy! So glad I asked for help.