Question
QUESTION: Wayne,
I have several Phals which are very healthy, but only 2 of them have produced spikes this past December; the rest of them look great, but have not produced anything.

I feed them all 20-20-20 weekly and keep them all in the same location, bench so I am wondering if it is a matter of just waiting for the others to produce a spike OR if there is anything I need to be doing to kick it into gear, if you will.

I live in Orlando, Florida and have moved them into my garage for the winter; I will be moving them out to my pool area in mid-march, God willing.

Thanks as always for your comments, help, I greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Angelo

ANSWER: Hello again Angelo.  I can't recall if you told me the temperature range in your garage.  I know you have had some pretty cold days recently.  Other than that, you may just need to wait.  Not all phalaenopsis hybrids flower at the same time.  You could try switching to a "bloom booster" fertilizer for the spring and see if that helps. The light should be bright enough so the leaves are a light yellowish green to obtain maximum blooms.  If the leaves are a dark green, that is a symptom of too little light.

On the side, you might enjoy this little tidbit.  My wife (who is from West Virginia) had a father named Angelo.  He died about two years ago but said he would send a message that he was OK in the great beyond by making an orchid flower that had not flowered for a long time.  I'm still waiting also.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Wayne,

Thanks for your prompt response, temperatures around here have been lower than usual; my garage keeps to about 10-20 degrees higher than outside. I've seen it get down to 50 this week which I don't like, but there is no much I can do. The garage has 2 big windows through which comes into it, I have opened the blinds to get as much light as possible; the garage door also has some small windows facing east through which lights comes in. The leaves are green albeit it not the yellowish green you reference.

I'll wait until the spring and hopefully the others produce a spike.

I liked the story of Angelo letting you know he would send a signal; I'll keep you posted, he may send the signal via my phals. ;-)

I wanted to let you know that I lived in Dayton, Ohio for about 17 years and used to go to visit my in-laws' family , at the time, in Buckhannon, West Virginia. I had the best times there, I would deer hunt all day and relaxed for 1 week a year.

Thanks again,
Angelo  

Answer
Thanks Angelo.  We've enjoyed the Air Museum at Wright Patterson in Dayton.  Would would like to get back there some day.

One possibility for increasing the light level is to hang some shop lights over your plants and put them on a day length timer.  Your temperature is probably fine with 50 degreees as your low.  Good growing.