Question
Hi Jim, I have asked you many orchid questions over the years and you have always been very helpful.  I have 3 phals total - one is new and in bloom.  My questions are about the other two phals.  I have two questions: (1) one of my phals produced its 3rd spike for me.  However, I think I let the plant get too dry between one of my waterings and the buds were stunted.  One tiny bud turned yellow and dropped off.  The other bud, much larger, is still lovely and green but has literally stopped growing.  It is just sitting there.  It is dark to medium green and you cannot see any sign that there is a "flower" inside the shell.  There is only one other little stunted bud on this spike.  Should I trim the spike?  I don't think the large bud is ever going to flower.  (2) Another phal of mine has a spike that is growing extremely slowly.  I have written before about this plant which refused to spike (I have had it for years and finally got a spike).  I am concerned because the spike is growing so slow.  It is barely moving.

Both of these phals are simply gorgeous other than the problems getting them to bloom.  Both are loaded with healthy silver/green roots (growing out of the plant) and the leaves look great -- thick, dark to medium green and plentiful.  The first phal bloomed once before in its current location (they get mid morning sun for about two hours every day if it is a sunny day).

I water but rarely fertilize.  Should I be fertilizing?  Is this the problem?

Thanks, Elizabeth

Answer
Hi Elizabeth!

Glad to see you again!!!  (grin)  It has been a while.  

Well, it sounds like you're doing a pretty good job growing those phalaenopsis except for the flowering part!  (grin)  

Not sure what you've set the temperature in your home but if it is kept down near 60F to 65F, that might be the reason the bud and spikes are so slow.  If you can, for the next 2 to 3 weeks try to set the day temps to around 70F to 75F and nights to above 60F, that may help get them going a little faster.  

Yes, giving them a little fertilizer would help.  Feed them a balance orchid fertilizer with each watering but at 1/4 the amount suggested on the container.  The old orchid saying is to feed weakly weekly.  Orchids are like you and I, they need some food to grow and bloom well.  

Good to see you again.  Hope this helped.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.