I've had this orchid going on 5 years now...the second year I got a
flower and that was in the spring, here on the mid atlantic coast.
Year after year, its getting taller and healthy looking...but not
spikes. It is now about 2 feet high and maybe forced to repot, but a
book i have on orchids recommends to repot only mid spring to mid
summer...of course that depends on the area, i would assume, doesn't
it? and it did not state that. I did repot it a year or so ago. Does
anyone know what i am doing wrong in not getting any flowers? I
fertilize every other watering and maybe that is why its getting so
tall. Stopped now cause of Fall and its in a bright south window with
water at its base for humidity. In fact, it has more humidity now than
the year it did bloom for me under those same conditions..go figure.

On 10/31/10 11:37 AM, Anthony wrote:
I've had this orchid going on 5 years now...the second year I got a
flower and that was in the spring, here on the mid atlantic coast.
Year after year, its getting taller and healthy looking...but not
spikes. It is now about 2 feet high and maybe forced to repot, but a
book i have on orchids recommends to repot only mid spring to mid
summer...of course that depends on the area, i would assume, doesn't
it? and it did not state that. I did repot it a year or so ago. Does
anyone know what i am doing wrong in not getting any flowers? I
fertilize every other watering and maybe that is why its getting so
tall. Stopped now cause of Fall and its in a bright south window with
water at its base for humidity. In fact, it has more humidity now than
the year it did bloom for me under those same conditions..go figure.

Mine blooms almost every year. It's potted in bark chips.

I feed it with an 18-18-18 orchid food every other week (your schedule):
1/4 tsp in a quart of water. I set the pot in a large bowl and pour the
water through. What drains into the bowl, I use to water other house
plants.

On the week that I do not feed it, I do water it but only once. I hold
the pot over the sink with my hand blocking the drain hole. I carefully
pour water into the pot until the bark on top begins to float. Then I
uncover the drain hole. I am very, very careful not to allow even the
tiniest drop of water into the center of the topmost leaf. I was told
that water there will cause the plant to rot and die.

I keep my phal in a north window. Phalaenopsis needs good INDIRECT
light but not direct sun. Since my house is not square on the compass
and get morning sun on the north side in the summer, I hang shade cloth
over the window from April to October.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary