Short spikes? Causes?

11 years ago

I did get quite a few of my Phals to set spikes , but they are not tall. Last year I only had two set spikes and they wer tall. They are string thier buds, so I doubt they will get much taller. They are maybe 5 to 6 inches at the most.

How do you get taller spikes? I read that you have to have the temps at 80 degrees . That's way warmer than most window sills or room temps.

I'm in zone 5a (PA)

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Comments (7)

arthurm2015
11 years ago
Maybe there are some answers in the link Flowering Phalaenopsis FAQ
User
11 years ago
Did you repot them recently? Maybe the plants are acclimating to that. If you bought them with spikes on them, then they were grown in a warm humid greenhouse. MIght be hard to replicate that look in a window, but you should be able to get close. How much have you been fertilizing and watering?
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arthurm2015
11 years ago
The bench mark for a standard (large flower size Phalaenopsis) is 7 flowers. But, of course the show winners have many more than that. I have been fiddling about on the fringes for many years with only moderate success. Here, in the sub tropics without centrally heated homes they are regarded as difficult and to grow them really well you need a "Phal House" just set for them. The "set for them" is detailed in the link.
User
11 years ago
Daytime temps should be close to 80F - nighttime temps should be at least 10F cooler. Phalaenopsis like to have a clear change in temperature between day and night. Short spikes could be caused by any number of things: too much fertilizer, too much light, wrong temperatures ... http://www.canadianorchidcongress.ca/cculture/phalaenopsis.pdf
jane__ny
11 years ago
As the spike develops, try pulling the plant back from the light. It forces the spike to reach for the light. Not sure if that works for stalled spikes, I think warmth has more to do with that.

When I grew in NY I could force the curve of my spikes by using lights. I would keep pulling the plant further away from the CFL lights to form dramatic shapes and cascade. Its fun.

Jane
arthurm2015
11 years ago
Folklore says 110 days from when the spike first appears to the first bloom. When I said the bench-mark was seven blooms, I'd be happy with seven blooms any-time but without a temperature controlled glass-house just for Phals those ideal temps are just a wish thing here.
dakota01
Original Author
11 years ago
I just checked them and the spikes have gotten a bit taller, they all have 7 or 8 flowers coming. My Mini's have 5 flowers.

Jane, I do move them around to get the spikes to "reach" for the light.

The room temp is only 66 but, the room gets a lot light and the sun does increase the room temp.

I water weekly, some of them I put extra holes in the pots some I didnt. I still can't decide if the extra holes are helping or hurting them, since the roots all look healthy.

The only fertilizer I use is Dyna-grow, which is 7-9-5, I fertilize every other watering. Since I have a softner, I use bottled spring water. Mine are grown in Repotme bark.

Should I use a different fertilizer when they are setting and have set their spikes.

I guess I should be happy that I got them to spike and that they have a nice amount of flowers coming.