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Orchids not flowering

lesleywade123lesleywade123 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
HELP, I've got 5 orchids in my kitchen windows,4 are Moth Orchids the other one is a Pseudobulbs. One of the Moth Orchid is always in flower, were has the other 4 have never flowered after the first flush, when bought. They are all in the same growing situation, re-potted every 12-18 months etc.

Posts

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Are you feeding your moth orchids?  I have eight of them on two different windowsills, upstairs and downstairs on the same side of the house.  I use a liquid orchid food and fill the sink with water to let them soak up to the edges of their pot in it for 15 minutes or so.  I do this about every other week for a month or two until they start to develop a flower spike.. then drop down to once a month or every other.  After flowering I give them a break from feeding for a few months.. then go back to it again.  

    Before, some would flower regardless but I always had a few that refused to grow flower spikes.  Now, with the feeding, they are all consistently in bloom around the same time.. so I feel the feeding really is what triggers the flowers.  
    Utah, USA.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    To encourage flowering, the moth orchids need to be put in a cool, light, frost free place. Blooms are promoted by a big change in temps. An unheated, light, porch or similar, can be good - a bit warmer in the day and closer to zero at night. I've always found this to work.  It's not quick, but then nothing aboout phal orchids are quick - they grow slowly, blooms slowly and die slowly - which is part of their charm.

    You could tip out the pot and check if the roots are ok. If they have been underwatered - or more likely, over-watered  the roots will be brown, dried out or rotted. If they are happy, they will be grey or green and firm. You can snip off any dead or dried out roots and put the plant back in the bark medium. Bark is best (not moss or anything else).

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    That is probably correct... except mine are on the same windowsill year-round.  Four above the toilet in my bathroom and four above my kitchen sink downstairs.  I also have a modern home with double glaze and central air on a thermostat set at a constant 72F or so.  There are obviously daily fluctuations as they are on a due East facing windowsill and direct sun from early to late morning.  And mine bloom two or three times a year (some are more apt to send up a second flower spike from a trimmed original).  And I have never noticed a seasonal pattern to them in the seven years I've had this set.  Only a reaction to increased watering and feeding. So maybe they react to multiple triggers?  Temperature and/or food&water?  
    Utah, USA.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    So maybe they react to multiple triggers.


    No doubt.

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Humidity is important for orchids. Ones that are bought in are often forced into flowering and then stop for some time before getting back into flowering mode.
    Our orchids are sprayed everyday and watered with feed once a week during the growing season.....but then some orchids grow more than others  in different seasons.
    Light and humidity keeps our orchids going.
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Utah is extremely arid.. which is why I have mine over the toilet in one space (with two daily humidity bursts from showers).. and over the kitchen sink for the other batch.  Dishes, washing hands, soaking pots, etc all add to the humidity.  
    Utah, USA.
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