Question – Natural Orchid Thai

Questions Asked About Phalaenopsis

Q.what kind of shape and color should I look for in the leaves and root tips to assure fine flowers? When buying phalaenopsis seedlings

A. We know of no correlation between flower shape and size, and the shape of the leaves or color of the root tips. On our bench of stud and award plants, you can find every type of leaf shape: pointed, rounded, long, short, etc. Certainly, in buying seedlings with color expectancy, you’ll want a plant with some pigmentation in the leaves and/or root tips. But again, there doesn’t seem to be any correlation between the amount of color visible in the plant, and the intensity of color in the flowers. From our experience, the only assurance of fine progeny comes from the use of fine parents. Of course, there is no hard-and-fast guarantee of success but the odds are in your favor.

Q. When buying phalaenopsis seedlings, what kind of shape and color should I look for in the leaves and root tips to assure fine flowers?

Q. My Why? phalaenopsis plant grows quite well, but doesn’t bloom.

A. One reason could be too high temperature. We find that phalaenopsis flower quite well at 62 degrees F. If you are growing the plants indoors, artificial lights nearby might cause long days and thus inhibit flowering. If the plants seem to be growing well, water and fertilizer applied as directed, temperature ideal, and still no flowers, then not enough light is probably the answer. Gradually increase the light intensity until you have about 1000 to 1500 footcandles, or roughly all the light the plants can take without burning. If growing in the home, move the plants to a nice, bright windowsill that receives an hour or two of direct sun in the very early morning or late afternoon.