Thanks for your help! I will try that.


On Wed, 21 May 2003 16:38:41 -0400, "Kenni Judd"
wrote:

What triggers most phalaenopsis to form new flower stems is a sharp
day/night differential. Here, this happens in the fall; we usually see our
first tiny little spike-nubbins around Halloween. Our shadehouse is
open-air most of the year, closed only on really cold nights when we need to
run the heaters.

If you are keeping the plant at a constant temperature, it is not getting
its "cue" and doesn't know that it's flowering season has arrived. If the
temperature in your basement is 12-15 degrees F cooler than the house,
taking it down there every night for a couple-three weeks is likely to
induce new spikes. Once the spike is initiated, it will grow and bloom in
the house, but if the temps are much above 80F, the flower count is likely
to be low. [Sorry, I don't think in degrees C.]

So it might be better to repot the plant now -- it's certainly due, if not
past-due -- and then wait until fall to try to initiate new flower stems.
It may not need a bigger pot, but it would almost certainly appreciate some
fresh potting medium. If it's been growing well for you, other than not
blooming, you could even put it back into the same pot.

If the night-time cooling doesn't induce spikes within 2-3 weeks, you might
try (1) skipping a couple of feedings; (2) substituting a low-nitrogen, high
phosphorus, high potassium formula fertilizer for a couple of feedings; or
(3) adding extra magnesium [Epsom Salts will do, chelated magnesium is
better].

Good growing,