TheNaturePlanet

What do flower growers look forward to the most? Of course, it's their Phalaenopsis shooting out flower spikes and popping up flower buds one after another! But if the flower spikes grow slowly, or even stop growing and fail to bloom, it can really drive people crazy!

How to make the flower spikes grow fast? The first secret is to feed it well! Phalaenopsis consume a lot of nutrients when shooting out flower spikes, and the nutrients in the bark alone are not enough. Starting from autumn (when the temperature drops below 25°C), you need to "add meals" to it. Water it with potassium dihydrogen phosphate diluted 1000 times once a week, either by directly irrigating the roots or spraying the leaves. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can promote flower bud differentiation and make the flower spikes shoot out quickly! If you find it troublesome, you can also use special slow-release fertilizer for orchids, sprinkle a few grains on the surface of the pot, and the fertilizer effect will be released slowly, which is a must for lazy people!

The second key is to "chill it a bit"! Phalaenopsis is a "vernalization type" plant. To make it shoot out flower spikes obediently, you have to artificially create a temperature difference. Put it in a place with a temperature of 18 - 25°C during the day, and move it to a room with a temperature of 12 - 15°C at night (such as an air-conditioned bedroom or corridor). Keep a temperature difference of 5 - 8°C every day for about half a month, and the flower spikes will be unable to hold back and emerge! Remember not to chill it too much. If the temperature is lower than 10°C, it is easy to get frostbite. After all, it is still a tropical delicate flower!

Light and watering also need to keep up! Although Phalaenopsis is afraid of intense sunlight, it needs to be exposed to 3 - 4 hours of soft scattered light every day, such as the morning sun or the light from the north balcony. With sufficient light, the flower spikes can grow strong. Don't water too frequently. Wait until the bark is completely dry before watering thoroughly. Too much water can easily cause root rot, which will slow down the growth rate instead. If you find that the flower spikes grow slowly after emerging, you can cover the flower pot with a black plastic bag to create a dark environment, which can stimulate the flower spikes to grow vigorously!

Is the flower spike still useful after blooming? Of course it is! Don't rush to cut it off! If there are still green and stiff parts on the flower spike, it means it is still alive. Counting from the top flower down, cut off the withered flowers obliquely 1 cm above the 3rd - 4th node, and keep the middle and lower parts of the flower spike. After a period of time, secondary flower spikes may emerge from the flower spike. Although the flowers are smaller than the first time, it's good to be able to enjoy more flowers!

If the flower spike has completely turned yellow and withered, cut it off directly from the root. Don't rush to throw it away after cutting. Cut the flower spike into small sections, disinfect them by ，and mix them into the bark planting material. The flower spike contains natural plant hormones, which can promote the growth of new roots! Moreover, don't rush to fertilize the Phalaenopsis after cutting off the flower spike. First, place it in a place with scattered light and good ventilation to recover for 1 - 2 weeks. After it regains its vitality, start normal maintenance to accumulate strength for the next blooming!

If you want the flower spikes of Phalaenopsis to grow fast, fertilize them, create a temperature difference, and provide sufficient light. Don't rush to throw away the flower spikes after they bloom. Proper handling can make "waste useful". Try these methods quickly!