Question
I recently bought a phalaenopsis orchid and I have had it for about a month and it is doing great.  It has three blooms on it and it is about 12" tall.  I have been giving it 20-14-13 water soluble orchid food every other time I water.  Am I doing the right thing?  Also, there is another small spike starting to come out of the top of the stem, when can I expect to see a bloom on that, and should I be using a bloom booster?  If so, when?  Thanks so much.  -Courtney

Answer
Hello Courtney,

You're doing pretty good so far!  Keep it up!!

While the 20-14-13 orchid food is okay for now, but if possible, get one with a lower first number to use in the fall and winter.  The one you have is good for promoting new leaf growth and roots while a lower first number would help promote blooming.  Actually, you probably could use the 20-14-13 all year round without any problem.  With that said, in early fall substitute one teaspoon epsom salt for the orchid food mixed in lukewarm water, feed this mixture for 3 weeks.  Epsom salt is really sulfate of magnesium and it helps to trigger the bloom cycle in most orchids.  After the 3 weeks, go back to using the orchid food.  Also, at the same time try to expose it to night temperatures around 55F to give it a kick start towards blooming.  

A new small spike growing from the top of the current spike?  If it is a spike, your phalaenopsis could be one in which the spike produces branches which eventually will have blooms on it.  But, if you mean the spike is growing out of the top of the phalaenopsis, it might be a new leaf rather than a spike - time will tell which it is.  If it is a new spike, it may take several months for it to produce blooms.  but, if it is a new leaf, it should grow to be as large or larger than the previous older leaf.  

Keep up the good work!  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.