Casey,

I have found, as a rough rule of thumb, that if I expect 2 months of
blooming from a Phal, I am rarely disappointed and often pleasantly
surprised. There are some Phals that are in bloom 6 months or more, and
sometimes the same plant will bloom much longer one blooming season than the
previous one.

It also depends on cultural conditions. For example, I read in the
OrchidSafari archives an interesting article recently, that keeping the
orchid in somewhat cooler conditions usually prolongs flower life, since
orchids have evolved to accommodate the fact that during somewhat colder
days there are fewer pollinators around. I assume that this could mean that
the same plant might bloom longer in a house of someone who keeps their
temperature at 65 degrees Fahrenheit then someone whose house is at 80
Fahrenheit? I don't know for sure though, just read the article recently,
and I may have misunderstood.

Also don't keep the blooming orchid near a bowl of fruit. The ethylene gas
emitted by the ripening fruit will cause the flowers to wilt faster.

Best,
Joanna

"Casey Wilson" N2310D @ gmail.com wrote in message
news:6y1Ed.1223$C.1055@trnddc05...
How long should the blooms last on a phalaenopsis, presuming it is
healthy and correctly maintained?