Question
QUESTION: I have my first orchid-a phalaenopsis which a friend was going to throw away
after blooming.  I have had it maybe six months, and since then it has been
growing like gangbusters- it now has 8 large leaves and has grown about 12
roots out the sides.  But I wonder if i need to do something more to make it
flower?  I live in Seattle, and temps are probably about 72 during the day,
and mid 60's at night, based on how i have the thermostat set for our
furnace.  I stopped fertilizing about 4-6 weeks ago, since that's how i treat
the rest of my house plants.  The orchid is large with each leaf about 10-12
inches long, so it looks like a mature plant to me.

ANSWER: Hello Nick,

It looks like you're doing a pretty good job of caring for the phalaenopsis!  Most phals should be starting the bloom process about now but in order for it to know that the bloom season is about to begin, it needs to experience 2 to 3 weeks of night temperatures near 55F with days near 70F.  If adjusting your thermostat for your entire home to 55F is not an option, is there a room available where you could put it and close the heater register to make that room cooler at night?  After the cool treatment you can move it back to where you've been growing it and in a month or so you may see a green or reddish-green bloom spike appear between the leafs.  With the size of your phal., you may see multiple spikes appear.  

By the way, in the spring after all of the flowers have all fallen off would be a good time to repot it.  Phalaenopsis enjoy being repotted into fresh orchid media and you will see a flourish of new growth leafs.  

Hope this helped.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



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

QUESTION: Thank you Jim for the answer.  I will try moving the orchid to my unfinished basement each night for the next month or so and see what happens.  How low can the temperature safely go and not do any harm?  Also, should I not feed or feed, and if I should feed, should I use full strength or diluted?  Thanks in advance for the answer, and btw I'm taking pictures so hopefully I can document my future "before and after" success story!

Answer
Hi Nick,

Phals can safely withstand temperatures down to 55F and even to 50F for a very short time.  Also, it is best to not move it from one place to another if there is greater than a 15F difference between locations as it might shock it.  

You can continue to feed it a dilute mix through winter.  Just remember that with cooler temperatures it will take a little longer for the potting media to dry.  

Photos are great!  You're recording this for posterity!!!  (grin)

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.