The Orchid Garden

Phalaenopsis Orchid Question

Question:

Question and forgive as I am dead beat as I spent the day with father in law at hospital but a friend of mine told me to cut back just under bottom bud is it top or bottom and forgive my wifes asleep right now and not going to wake her to find out if she was told above or below. Also just for your info it has a pretty long stem coming out or the middle of the plant with 3 good size leaves the stem did have 2 blooms on it back in Oct 99 when we got it. Just so you know it did bloom and when since then nothing except what I believe someone called a keiki if I remember correctly which is just starting to poke it’s way out of the soil but off near the edge of the pot unlike the other leafs near the center. Thanks again. Dave =o)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If it does bloom when is the usual cycle for this type of plant the winter/spring blooming phals usually start putting up a flower spike when the weather turns cool and temps drop at night–in the fall.  the spikes take a while to grow–some can get pretty long–and make the buds.  if you plant has already bloomed and the flowers have faded, cut back the spike to just above where the lowest flower on the spike was.  it may rebloom from that spike, if the conditions are right.  water the plant enough to keep the potting medium slightly moist–but not wet.  if you push your finger into the medium and it feels moist–dont water yet.  fertilize—I fertilize mine at least once a week, but some folks fert only once every two or four weeks. hope this helps. Alynne South Fla.  Zone 10 Its my day!  Everyday!

Response:

If it does bloom when is the usual cycle for this type of plant

the winter/spring blooming phals usually start putting up a flower spike when the weather turns cool and temps drop at night–in the fall.  the spikes take a while to grow–some can get pretty long–and make the buds.  if you plant has already bloomed and the flowers have faded, cut back the spike to just above where the lowest flower on the spike was.  it may rebloom from that spike, if the conditions are right.  water the plant enough to keep the potting medium slightly moist–but not wet.  if you push your finger into the medium and it feels moist–dont water yet.  fertilize—I fertilize mine at least once a week, but some folks fert only once every two or four weeks. hope this helps. Alynne South Fla.  Zone 10 Its my day!  Everyday!

Response:

Thanks for the tips was thinking no one wanted to help. The room we have it in is actually our masterbedroom bath which is upstairs and it usually doesn’t get to cold (we’re in SC) and the coldest it usually gets here is about 30’s right now it’s about 40’s at the lowest. We do have a couple skylights in the bath which do allow sunlight in but not hit it directly though we do place it for a short time in the hall which gets alittle direct light through the hall skylight and we notice it has been doing alittle better but still not great. If it does bloom when is the usual cycle for this type of plant someone in the gardens group said usually winter time and from your comment on temp. I would assume this is the time of year for bloom (winter that is) Thanks for the reply. Dave =o)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I didnt see anyone answer your question, so here goes:  {snip} how we can get this plant to bloom again it seems like our friends plant is blooming alot. We’re afraid to ask her as we don’t want her to think we don’t like her gift {snip} Should we try and place it outside into more brighter sunlight for a portion of the day? your friend would prob not mind at all if you asked for advice on how to grow the plant–she would surely know that you liked it and wanted to give it good care! <G that said–your orchid likes soft light—your hand would cast a fuzzy shadow when held a few inches over the leaves.  Phals that bloom this time of year need a temperature drop at night to get them to bloom.  Is it in a room that gets cooler at night?  Sometimes they simply do not bloom again, or only bloom once a year.  also, they need water only when getting dry and to be fertilized. give your friend a call and find out what she is doing for her plant. Alynne South Fla.  Zone 10 Its my day!  Everyday!

Response:

Hi Group I have a friend that gave us a Phalaenopsis Orchid. When we first got it, it had a couple flowers on it which have since died so we did exactly what our friend suggested we do and that was to cut it just below the lowest bud once it died. We did that and keep it watered when needed. We do keep it in a fairly bright room and also put it in a sunny spot when we get some sun into the house which is usually only for a very short time during the day as we have alot of trees in our yard. We aren’t sure if we want to put it outside as we have a good size deer population on the island that seem to eat anything in sight that blooms =o( Is there any suggests as to how we can get this plant to bloom again it seems like our friends plant is blooming alot. We’re afraid to ask her as we don’t want her to think we don’t like her gift when it’s just the opposite we love it alot but am just not having good luck with it. Are there any suggestions? Should we try and place it outside into more brighter sunlight for a portion of the day? Any help would be much appreciated. Dave =o)

Response:

I didnt see anyone answer your question, so here goes:  {snip} how we can get this plant to bloom again it seems like our friends plant is blooming alot. We’re afraid to ask her as we don’t want her to think we don’t like her gift {snip} Should we try and place it outside into more brighter sunlight for a portion of the day?

your friend would prob not mind at all if you asked for advice on how to grow the plant–she would surely know that you liked it and wanted to give it good care! <G that said–your orchid likes soft light—your hand would cast a fuzzy shadow when held a few inches over the leaves.  Phals that bloom this time of year need a temperature drop at night to get them to bloom.  Is it in a room that gets cooler at night?  Sometimes they simply do not bloom again, or only bloom once a year.  also, they need water only when getting dry and to be fertilized.  give your friend a call and find out what she is doing for her plant. Alynne South Fla.  Zone 10 Its my day!  Everyday!

Response:

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