Large Phals lots of spikes!
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Not in the heat of Peru, I don't think so.
M
MaryPientka
Guest
Outstanding!
Paphman910
Well-Known Member
nice, did you subject them to low temperature during the night? I have a Phal that just grows and grows without ever flowering.
I'll answer any questions you have.
I make my own fertilizer from bulk chemicals. The formula changes frequently.
I do things differently every time! But yes what you are seeing in the pictures is the results of some very different specific manipulations.
I kind of hope the do glow in the dark....as long as they are not blue!
Not exactly!
I hope they bloom! I'm not quite sure if there is going to be enough airspace though.
They a muts. All seedlings made here in Peru from noid white and pink standard phals. They are all actually reasonably good quality flowers, well actually some of these plants have never bloomed before so we'll see if they are good.
Did you say something?
The result is from long term study of plant growth and trying different ideas and concepts in search for better results. I too am anxious to see how the plants handle the volume of potential flowers.
Some of the plants have flowered as recently as 6 months ago and some have never flowered. The plants are grown at temperatures that inhibit flowering and promote rapid growth. The plants are only about 2 years from 3 leaf 8-12" LS size.
I was just kidding. Seriously though, very impressive growing.
You have the basic concept of temperatures and spike induction. Our grow temperatures are very warm.
Day temperatures often are above 36c (97F) in our open air grow area.
We have a evap cooled house that stays at and below 32c (90F).
Nights cool off to 24-27c (75-80F).
To induce spikes we move into an air conditioned space at specific temps well below 77F. For this experiment I used specific night/day temperature changes between 19c and 75c (66-75F).
The secret sauce is only part secret at this point.
Growth is one part. Blooming is a separate part.
The main thing is to provide the correct nutrients in the correct amounts at the correct time to grow the plant strong enough. I've made no secret about how I think plants need to be fertilized. :wink:
The giant white phals in Taiwan genetically produce a lot of flowers. I'm trying to import this variety to see what happens here. The genetics of my plants max out at about 15 flowers on a spike and the V3 from taiwan has twice that many.
I have not increased CO2 yet. I think that will give even a better growth result.
It's on my to do list.
Wrong Country.
We were actually told that it was too hot here to grow Phals.
Needless to say we have no heating bill!
(Cooling costs are another story)
Yes most Phal varieties need a cool period to produce spikes.
The assumed magic number is above 28c the plant remains vegetative and will not bloom. So if you can drop the day temperature below 28c and then get the night below 24c you will probably induce spikes to form. It takes about a month at these temperatures. When I drop the night temp to19c I see spikes in about 18 days. The big plants in the pictures will remain in the cold for 2 months.
