I have had these plants now for some time, say around 5 to 6 years.
One is Phalaenopsis Golden Blush, the other one is Phalaenopsis Dawn Hunter X Venosa ‘Carmela’ Both yellow Phalaenopsis.

The Phalaenopsis Dawn Hunter X Venosa ‘Carmela’ flowers some years and some years it does not, not sure why.

The Phalaenopsis Golden Blush flowers ever year, but some years like this year it drops its buds. This year it is blasting one bud at a time each day and it is just full of flower buds this year, more buds then ever before.

I have trouble with both of these yellow Phalaenopsis either not flowering at all or blasting, I am at a lost of why… all the rest of my Phalaenopsis flower just fine and don’t blast. I have around 20 Phalaenopsis all growing at the back of my orchid table that is in a south window, with a grow light over the back of the table.

The Phalaenopsis Golden Blush is growing in a basket of nz moss and the Phalaenopsis Dawn Hunter is growing in a clay pot of bark mix. Watered and fertilizer just like all the rest of the Phalaenopsis.

But still each year these 2 yellow ones give me fits.

Am I missing something in the culture of yellow Phalaenopsis?

Is there a difference in culture for yellow Phalaenopsis?

Does the yellow Phalaenopsis need that drop in temps too?

Do they need more of something like light, more fertilizer, more water... or less of something? Man I think these yellow Phalaenopsis are so lovely but for the life of me they just do not flower like the rest of my Phalaenopsis.

I have one more yellow Phalaenopsis it is Phalaenopsis Brother Lancer, not a pear yellow at it has strips and some reddish dots. I have know trouble growing or flowering this one, each year it set flowers and does not drop any of them.

I would sure appreciate any help, if any of you out there in orchid land has any culture tips.
Thanks

Hi Laura,

I don't know the answer but I'll bump it up for you. :D Any tips anyone?

Thanks Paphraguy
I was sure hopeing that some one would know the answer or some tips I could try. for the life of me I am at a lost on why these 2 Phal give me so much trouble.

Laura,I have owned one yellow and it wasn't a great bloomer like the others. I don't have an answer. I have a friend In Puerto Rico who grows Phals. When I get a chance I will copy your note and send it to her. If anyone has an answer for you Irma will.

This is pretty weird that it is only your yellows. I have mostly species, but my yellower species have no bud blasting problems specific to them.

In general any phal flower blasting I've had is from;
1) Mealybugs
2) Fumes from an inefficient propane heater.
3) Low humidity.

Is it possible that these plants are closer to a heating duct or other dry area than your other phals?

.... If i can just add to that list -- Media went dry and cold drafts :|
It must be very frustrating, good luck with ur yellow phals i hope you find an answer!



Gloria :Party:

Thanks Ron-ny that would be nice of to send her the posting.

Ruckl yes this year my humidity is lower then most years, not sure why it is very dry here in the part of Missouri I live in with very little rain fall.

But still I have this trouble each year and the yellow plants don't always set in the same spot each winter. I am sure it is not bugs. Or any heater fumes.

Maybe yellow Phalaenopsis do need more humidity then other color of Phalaenopsis. Some thing to see… might help.
:?: :?:

This is just a guess, but most of the yellow species bloom in the summer when it is warmer and wetter. Maybe the yellow parent requires more warmth and humidity than other colored hybrids.

I don't know but my yellow hybrid (I'm sure there's Brother Lancer in there somewhere!)
is in spike now...

You also might try more light. A commercial grower I know says that more light when growing and setting spikes/buds should result in less bud blast.

The problem here is likely due to the parentage of the two yellow phals. Some hybrids are more likely to have bud blast problems than others. I have several hundred yellow phals and none are very prone to bud blast. Many of these are in flower now when the heating is on the most. What it is your temp range. Some phals do not like to get below 60 degrees at night but like at least a 15 degree temperture difference between day and night temps to flower well. For the plant that does not flower, the problem could be either not enought temp difference or not enought light. Seem like you were unlucky and managed to get two somewhat difficult yellow phals while the vast majority are far easier to deal with than say large pinks. Also, what do you use as fertilizer? A good balanced fert without Urea as a nitrogen source and enough calcium and magnesium does best for me. What are they potted in and how often do you repot. If you have good roots and good growth, any phal should bloom well.
Dean Stock

Thanks for all the helpful tips.
Dean I leave my orchids outside till the temp drop to around 55 to 60 in the fall them move them into the tables for the winter. I use the peters’ cal-mag fertilizer … I like it lots.
All of my other Phalaenopsis do flower for me setting on the back of the table, with a grow light
. And none of the other Phalaenopsis blast, but the yellow Phalaenopsis Golden Blush, and the Phalaenopsis Dawn Hunter x venosa Carmela just never ever set spikes.

So from all the tips I got here I moved both plants to more light. Set them on a tray filled with water… no the pots do not touch the water… I moved both plants yesterday, and today when I checked the plants the Phalaenopsis Golden Blush did not have any new buds that had blasted. Only time will tell if this helps, but I am hopeful.
And time will tell if more light will make the other yellow plant set spikes.

Thanks all.