On Mon, 8 Nov 2004 08:23:39 -0800, todd wrote
(in article ) :

I am a formerly proud owner of three Phals. As a recently divorced
man, I purchased them in an effort to give my condo life. While they
were in bloom they were magnificent, unfortunatly they have reduced
themselves to dry brown stems with a couple of green leaves beneath.
I have been careful not to overwater, but I wonder if I haven't given
them enough water (becsue the stems are brown and dried).

Is there a way I can encourage a fresh blooming in these plants? I
appologize in advance for any questions I may ask. I have tried to do
some research and have become quite confused by the information out
there.

Thank you so much for your help.

Todd

No apologies necessary. If you're expecting continuous or frequent
bloom, orchids may not be the plant for you.
It sounds as though your phals are doing what phals do: sending up new
inflorescences (stems, or spikes) every few months, up to every year. It
takes forever for buds to open, and then most phal blooms will last for
months. Sometimes they will bloom repeatedly from lower nodes on the
inflorescence, but if the entire thing is brown and dry, it's time to cut it
off as close to the base as practical, continue watering and fertilizing,
watch new roots and leaves grow, and wait for the next inflorescence.
Some of the new roots, BTW, may be exuberantly aerial, which is OK, and
will be thick and grey, with pointy green tips, which distinguishes them from
new inflorescences. As new leaves grow from the crown, the oldest leaves on
the plant will yellow and drop off.
There are some orchids which will bloom more often, or even serially
from the same inflorescence. Get hold of the Ortho book of orchid growing,
and check with a commercial grower or the orchid society in your area for the
best possibilities, if you're interested.
Good luck.

Tom
Walnut Creek, CA
Nikon CP 5700