On Mon, 3 Jul 2006 22:58:34 -0500, "Bruce Musgrove"
wrote:

EPLC (Epilaeliocattleya) Mae Bly "Emily"

BLC (Brassolaeliocattley) Chyong Guu Chaffinh "Ta Hsin"

DGMRA (Degarmoara) WinterWonderland "White Fariy"
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The question: EPLC, DGMRA, and BLC are not putting flower stalks out.
They are growing new roots, shoots and basal KeiKi's (new roots with shoot
off a stem right at the level of the medium). As a amateur, I have no
feeling for how soon I would expect new flower spikes to appear, or if maybe
I need to modify the growing conditions. I look at the phaleonopsis and see
how fast the bloomed and think "Hmmmmm. Should these be blooming that fast?
Or DO I need to modify the growing conditions?" One thing I really wonder
is do they need more light? (IE the Phaleonopsis love it so the light may
not be enough for the others.)


Bruce -
The Pal's need a LOT less light than the others can use. But since
you are growing the others in 'Ph al Light', you will need to
s-l-o-w-l-y introduce them to more light. IF you just switch them to
their normal growing light conditions you will probably sunburn them.
So you have two problems, One is where to grow the 3 light hogs and
the second is how to change them to full light.

If there is a South or other west window the 3 can move to, start with
them feet back and each week move them closer to the full light. A
sheer curtain may scatter the light with out absorbing as much as your
blinds are reflecting. IF there is no other window. They you may
wish to consider growing the phals under florescent lights or at the
back of the table so the other plants and distance keep the direct sun
off the plants.

Your EPLC (Epidendrum x Laelia x Cattleya) and BLC (Brassavola x
Laelia x Cattleya) are Cattleya crosses. They need light strong
enough that you hand held a hand span above a surface will cast a
definite shadow on the surface. IF your getting a cloud effect
instead of a hand shadow the light is not strong enough to uniformly
and regularly cause each new growth to bloom. These plants must put
up a new growth before each bloom cycle.

The DGMNA (Brassia x Miltonia x Odontoglossum) may bloom well in the
middle, but generally would follow the idea of more light more blooms.

All 3 will do better if regularly fertilized at about 1/2 strength of
any balanced fertilizer. The fertilizer will collect in the pot if
you do not rinse it out about every 4th watering. Normal watering
practices would be to water heavily so that water washes thru the pot
then allow to drain well before setting back in the grow area. I am
not sure what you do in your "soak." Soaking one plant after another
in the same pot of water can lead to sharing diseases and pests as
they wash out of one pot and are absorbed by the next.

Your Phals would probably enjoy a bit of fertilizer as well. I find
mine in moss do not want as much as my plants in bark mix. Some Phals
will bloom multiple times a year or for very long stretches of time.
They bloom from the bottom or beneath the leaves. The 'worry' point
of a phal is a bloom spike or rot of the center (called the crown) of
the plant. The Phal will die if it can not produce new leaves to
continue it's growth. Do NOT allow water to sit in the crown over
night, this practice will lead to crown rot.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/orchids