What to do if Your Phalaenopis Won't
Bloom First, your
phalaenopsis plant must be healthy to bloom. green, Your plant should
gnerally have three to five turgid leaves. The most recent mature leaf should
be larger thna the previous one. Roots should be thick and firm, whether in
the potting mix or sticking up in the air. If you don't have a healthy plant,
don't expect it to flower! If you're not getting blooms AND your plants are
healthy, there are several reasons why it may not be
blooming. Below are the top three reasons your phal won't
flowe:
#1. YOUR MOTH
ORCHID NEEDS MORE LIGHT
While a bright northern exposure may be sufficent
to get a few blooms, an eastern exposure, shaded western or
shady southern expsoure should provide more than enough ligh tot bloom
phalenopsis, which need far less light than most other
orchids. If
your window is heavily shaded by trees or adjacent buildings, this will reduce
light to your plants and you will have to make adjustments
accordingly. Find out more about
light requirements for phalaenopsis
orchids
If your plants are not getting enough light move them closer
to the window. Even a foot can make a huge difference as light falls off very
rapidly within increasing distance from a
window.
#2 FEED YOUR PHALENOPSIS
ORCHIDS
Phalenopsis orchids are epiphytes--basically this means that they grow
on other trees and they get all their nutrients from rain and debris that lodges
among their roots. Most cultivated phals are grownin bark or sphagnum
moss, which have virtually no nutreints. Without extra plant food or
fertilizers, your moth orchids will not grow or bloom well. The secret is to
fertilize your plants regularly using a WEAK fertilizer or plant-food solution.
Find out more about how to
fertilize your
orchids.
#3 COOLER
NIGHTS. Most orchids like a difference between day and night temperatures of
about 8 to 10 degrees year 'round. With phals a night time drop in
temerature in the fall (or spring, depending on when your plant blooms) is needed
to initate the flower spike. Place your moth orchids next to a window that
is cracked at night to let in a little cool air so that night temperatures are
around 55 degrees. You can also put your plant in an unheated room at night. Do
this for about 3 to 4 weeks and you should begin to see flower stalks
emerging from between the leaves near the base of the plant! Make
sure your plants are not in a cold draft, or protect them with a light curtain.
Remember that day temperatures need to be about ten degrees
higher.
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