I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around
March until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop
off. Pretty good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the
'hospital' window in the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day,
wondering if the stem was dying back, To my surprise and pleasure, one
withered flower was still clinging on but further up exactly the same
stem, new buds are forming. I've never seen this happen before on any
of my other Phals.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around March
until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop off. Pretty
good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the 'hospital' window in
the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day, wondering if the stem was dying
back, To my surprise and pleasure, one withered flower was still clinging
on but further up exactly the same stem, new buds are forming. I've never
seen this happen before on any of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to enable
them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at which the
plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of times. You may find
the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes before flowering, I
think that is when they are at their most beautiful.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 2014-08-23 11:31:26 +0000, Bob Hobden said:

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around
March until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop
off. Pretty good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the
'hospital' window in the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day,
wondering if the stem was dying back, To my surprise and pleasure, one
withered flower was still clinging on but further up exactly the same
stem, new buds are forming. I've never seen this happen before on any
of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to
enable them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at
which the plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of
times. You may find the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes
before flowering, I think that is when they are at their most beautiful.

Thanks, Bob. I've only had the 'shrivel up' experience with the stems.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:31:26 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around March
until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop off. Pretty
good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the 'hospital' window in
the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day, wondering if the stem was dying
back, To my surprise and pleasure, one withered flower was still clinging
on but further up exactly the same stem, new buds are forming. I've never
seen this happen before on any of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to enable
them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at which the
plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of times. You may find
the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes before flowering, I
think that is when they are at their most beautiful.

I have 5 plants. One did just this, made new stems of buds after the
previous lot died off. However, the buds have failed to open, having
veen there a few months. Then the buds started dropping.
Could this have been the very hot weather? They are in the same place
where I always keep them. One has had a wonderful spray of flowers,
also for a few months.
Sometimes the old stems go woody and then I cut them down to the base.

On 23/08/2014 16:29, Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:31:26 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around March
until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop off. Pretty
good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the 'hospital' window in
the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day, wondering if the stem was dying
back, To my surprise and pleasure, one withered flower was still clinging
on but further up exactly the same stem, new buds are forming. I've never
seen this happen before on any of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to enable
them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at which the
plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of times. You may find
the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes before flowering, I
think that is when they are at their most beautiful.

I have 5 plants. One did just this, made new stems of buds after the
previous lot died off. However, the buds have failed to open, having
veen there a few months. Then the buds started dropping.
Could this have been the very hot weather? They are in the same place
where I always keep them. One has had a wonderful spray of flowers,
also for a few months.
Sometimes the old stems go woody and then I cut them down to the base.




Buds can abort if the plant is turned to face a different direction.
They are unable to turn with the stem, so drop off. This is why orchids
are invariably bought with flowers open. Drought and dryness can also
have the same effect.
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

"Pam Moore" wrote

"Bob Hobden" wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around March
until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop off. Pretty
good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the 'hospital' window
in
the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day, wondering if the stem was
dying
back, To my surprise and pleasure, one withered flower was still clinging
on but further up exactly the same stem, new buds are forming. I've never
seen this happen before on any of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to enable
them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at which the
plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of times. You may
find
the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes before flowering, I
think that is when they are at their most beautiful.

I have 5 plants. One did just this, made new stems of buds after the
previous lot died off. However, the buds have failed to open, having
veen there a few months. Then the buds started dropping.
Could this have been the very hot weather? They are in the same place
where I always keep them. One has had a wonderful spray of flowers,
also for a few months.
Sometimes the old stems go woody and then I cut them down to the base.


Lots of reasons, too high a temperature, lack of water, combination of the
two etc.
Remember that whilst they have been domesticated of late it's not that many
decades ago they were considered difficult plants needing quite specialist
care. (£25 each was a normal price in the 1970s!)
If the flower spike is still green and healthy then the autumn fall in
temperature should initiate more flower buds to form.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

"Sacha" wrote

Bob Hobden said:

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around March
until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop off.
Pretty good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the 'hospital'
window in the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day, wondering if the
stem was dying back, To my surprise and pleasure, one withered flower
was still clinging on but further up exactly the same stem, new buds are
forming. I've never seen this happen before on any of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to enable
them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at which the
plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of times. You may
find the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes before
flowering, I think that is when they are at their most beautiful.

Thanks, Bob. I've only had the 'shrivel up' experience with the stems.


With me it's the opposite, I very rarely find the spike dies, in fact one of
mine has 5 green but flowerless spikes awaiting new flowers to form. It's a
yellow coloured one and I do find those the easiest to grow.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

"Spider" wrote in message ...


Buds can abort if the plant is turned to face a different direction. They
are unable to turn with the stem, so drop off. This is why orchids are
invariably bought with flowers open. Drought and dryness can also have the
same effect.

I have 2 phals on an East facing window. Problem is, they both suffer from
excess growth on one side.

I've tried adjusting the thin support sticks (supplied) to get them more
upright but with little success.

Don't want to turn them around, as you say, for fear of buds and flower
loss.

On 2014-08-23 18:24:39 +0000, Spider said:

On 23/08/2014 16:29, Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:31:26 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around March
until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop off. Pretty
good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the 'hospital' window in
the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day, wondering if the stem was dying
back, To my surprise and pleasure, one withered flower was still clinging
on but further up exactly the same stem, new buds are forming. I've never
seen this happen before on any of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to enable
them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at which the
plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of times. You may find
the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes before flowering, I
think that is when they are at their most beautiful.

I have 5 plants. One did just this, made new stems of buds after the
previous lot died off. However, the buds have failed to open, having
veen there a few months. Then the buds started dropping.
Could this have been the very hot weather? They are in the same place
where I always keep them. One has had a wonderful spray of flowers,
also for a few months.
Sometimes the old stems go woody and then I cut them down to the base.




Buds can abort if the plant is turned to face a different direction.
They are unable to turn with the stem, so drop off. This is why
orchids are invariably bought with flowers open. Drought and dryness
can also have the same effect.

That's interesting, Spider. I bought one recently from Morrisons, a
double-stemmed one with flowers open and with buds. Three buds have
dropped off andI was about to write here, asking why! I assume there's
nothing I can do to prevent this?

--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 23/08/2014 23:44, Bertie Doe wrote:


"Spider" wrote in message ...


Buds can abort if the plant is turned to face a different direction.
They are unable to turn with the stem, so drop off. This is why
orchids are invariably bought with flowers open. Drought and dryness
can also have the same effect.

I have 2 phals on an East facing window. Problem is, they both suffer
from excess growth on one side.

I've tried adjusting the thin support sticks (supplied) to get them more
upright but with little success.

Don't want to turn them around, as you say, for fear of buds and flower
loss.





Once out of the bud stage, I turn mine very, very gradually, but only if
I feel they really need it. If you try this, make sure yours are
well-watered to lessen the chance of flower loss. I've never lost
flowers this way yet, but I am very cautious. Of course, you can always
wait until the flowers are over and then turn it round to balance up the
growth. If yours are very lop-sided, you may have to be patient and
wait until they're ready to be potted on, then simply set them as
upright as you can *without breaking roots*.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 24/08/2014 07:39, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-08-23 18:24:39 +0000, Spider said:

On 23/08/2014 16:29, Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:31:26 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around
March
until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop off.
Pretty
good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the 'hospital'
window in
the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day, wondering if the stem
was dying
back, To my surprise and pleasure, one withered flower was still
clinging
on but further up exactly the same stem, new buds are forming. I've
never
seen this happen before on any of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to
enable
them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at which
the
plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of times. You
may find
the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes before flowering, I
think that is when they are at their most beautiful.

I have 5 plants. One did just this, made new stems of buds after the
previous lot died off. However, the buds have failed to open, having
veen there a few months. Then the buds started dropping.
Could this have been the very hot weather? They are in the same place
where I always keep them. One has had a wonderful spray of flowers,
also for a few months.
Sometimes the old stems go woody and then I cut them down to the base.




Buds can abort if the plant is turned to face a different direction.
They are unable to turn with the stem, so drop off. This is why
orchids are invariably bought with flowers open. Drought and dryness
can also have the same effect.

That's interesting, Spider. I bought one recently from Morrisons, a
double-stemmed one with flowers open and with buds. Three buds have
dropped off andI was about to write here, asking why! I assume there's
nothing I can do to prevent this?




Yes, I've had that happen occasionally. When I get mine home, I look
closely to see which direction the buds are facing and try and mimic
that, so they don't have to 'travel' and dislocate themselves.
It's also possible that the supermarket has not kept up with the
watering, so check if yours needs a drink. The other possibility
(especially now that the weather is cooler and frosts are already
forecast in some areas) is that your Phal. suffered from a draught or
chill as you brought it home. Stores and gcs often put the pot in a
carrier bag, but I often take an extra bag and gently put it over the
head of the orchid until I get home. I get some odd looks at the till,
but I'm well beyond worrying about such things!

Of course, when you get home and your frozen peas thaw because you've
been tending your orchid, you'll just have to tell Ray plants have
priority (he'll understand that) and would he like pea soup for dinner?
(He may not understand that!):~))
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 23/08/2014 19:24, Spider wrote:
On 23/08/2014 16:29, Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:31:26 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote


I have 5 plants. One did just this, made new stems of buds after the
previous lot died off. However, the buds have failed to open, having
veen there a few months. Then the buds started dropping.
Could this have been the very hot weather? They are in the same place
where I always keep them. One has had a wonderful spray of flowers,
also for a few months.
Sometimes the old stems go woody and then I cut them down to the base.



Buds can abort if the plant is turned to face a different direction.
They are unable to turn with the stem, so drop off. This is why orchids
are invariably bought with flowers open. Drought and dryness can also
have the same effect.

Are you sure about the change in light direction causing bud drop,
Spider? A quick bit of googling revealed quite a few hits mentioning
temperature and humidity as causes, but none mentioning light. I have 5
phals on a north-facing bathroom window, where they flower well, but as
they grow and flower into each other I often turn them 180° to avoid
this. I've never had a bud drop off.

--

Jeff

On 2014-08-24 11:42:47 +0000, Spider said:

On 24/08/2014 07:39, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-08-23 18:24:39 +0000, Spider said:

On 23/08/2014 16:29, Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:31:26 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote

I bought one of these some time ago and it has bloomed from around
March
until a week ago, when the flowers started to wither and drop off.
Pretty
good value, I'd say. BUT having transferred it to the 'hospital'
window in
the kitchen, I glanced at it the other day, wondering if the stem
was dying
back, To my surprise and pleasure, one withered flower was still
clinging
on but further up exactly the same stem, new buds are forming. I've
never
seen this happen before on any of my other Phals.

Quite normal. It's why you should never cut the flower stem off a Phal
unless it goes brown and dead. The show experts use this trait to
enable
them to produce lots of flowers by changing the temperature at which
the
plant is kept so extending the flower spike a number of times. You
may find
the spike branches onto a number of extended spikes before flowering, I
think that is when they are at their most beautiful.

I have 5 plants. One did just this, made new stems of buds after the
previous lot died off. However, the buds have failed to open, having
veen there a few months. Then the buds started dropping.
Could this have been the very hot weather? They are in the same place
where I always keep them. One has had a wonderful spray of flowers,
also for a few months.
Sometimes the old stems go woody and then I cut them down to the base.




Buds can abort if the plant is turned to face a different direction.
They are unable to turn with the stem, so drop off. This is why
orchids are invariably bought with flowers open. Drought and dryness
can also have the same effect.

That's interesting, Spider. I bought one recently from Morrisons, a
double-stemmed one with flowers open and with buds. Three buds have
dropped off andI was about to write here, asking why! I assume there's
nothing I can do to prevent this?




Yes, I've had that happen occasionally. When I get mine home, I look
closely to see which direction the buds are facing and try and mimic
that, so they don't have to 'travel' and dislocate themselves.
It's also possible that the supermarket has not kept up with the
watering, so check if yours needs a drink. The other possibility
(especially now that the weather is cooler and frosts are already
forecast in some areas) is that your Phal. suffered from a draught or
chill as you brought it home. Stores and gcs often put the pot in a
carrier bag, but I often take an extra bag and gently put it over the
head of the orchid until I get home. I get some odd looks at the till,
but I'm well beyond worrying about such things!

Of course, when you get home and your frozen peas thaw because you've
been tending your orchid, you'll just have to tell Ray plants have
priority (he'll understand that) and would he like pea soup for dinner?
(He may not understand that!):~))

I don't think it got cold! I brought it straight home from Totnes,
which was a 20 minute or so journey and Morrisons supplied one of those
very long poly bags which went over the whole plant. I'll follow your
advice for any moving! No pea soup so far! ;-)

--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 24/08/2014 13:05, Jeff Layman wrote:
On 23/08/2014 19:24, Spider wrote:
On 23/08/2014 16:29, Pam Moore wrote:
On Sat, 23 Aug 2014 12:31:26 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"Sacha" wrote


I have 5 plants. One did just this, made new stems of buds after the
previous lot died off. However, the buds have failed to open, having
veen there a few months. Then the buds started dropping.
Could this have been the very hot weather? They are in the same place
where I always keep them. One has had a wonderful spray of flowers,
also for a few months.
Sometimes the old stems go woody and then I cut them down to the base.



Buds can abort if the plant is turned to face a different direction.
They are unable to turn with the stem, so drop off. This is why orchids
are invariably bought with flowers open. Drought and dryness can also
have the same effect.

Are you sure about the change in light direction causing bud drop,
Spider? A quick bit of googling revealed quite a few hits mentioning
temperature and humidity as causes, but none mentioning light. I have 5
phals on a north-facing bathroom window, where they flower well, but as
they grow and flower into each other I often turn them 180° to avoid
this. I've never had a bud drop off.




Yes, I've read it in at least one of my many orchid books. I don't
think it's the same as bud blast. In the early days of my keeping
orchids, perfectly healthy buds would abort mysteriously relatively soon
after I'd got them home. Then I read about their dislike of movement,
obliging them to twist on the stem. Since then, I've taken particular
care when manoeuvering them and had no casualites, which would seem to
bear it out.

I'm wondering now, because of what you say, if this habit refers
especially to the smaller buds which appear to have no pedicel (which
would allow them to move), and that bigger buds with developed pedicel
are freer to move. Interesting.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

Yes, I've read it in at least one of my many orchid books. I don't
think it's the same as bud blast. In the early days of my keeping
orchids, perfectly healthy buds would abort mysteriously relatively soon
after I'd got them home. Then I read about their dislike of movement,
obliging them to twist on the stem. Since then, I've taken particular
care when manoeuvering them and had no casualites, which would seem to
bear it out.

I'm wondering now, because of what you say, if this habit refers
especially to the smaller buds which appear to have no pedicel (which
would allow them to move), and that bigger buds with developed pedicel
are freer to move. Interesting.


Sounds to me as if the best thing to do is to select your plant/s from
the middle of the trolley in the supermarket where they have had maximum
shading, then cover them with a black bag over their head on the journey
home, then position them with the young buds facing the light.
Then pray you got it right.