Plants not Flowering (1)

Both plants (1) and (2) had not flowered for almost one year since purchased in early July 2006. This species should be relatively free-flowering and capable of blooming continuously year-round in Singapore's hot climate if the plant is established, mature, healthy and well cultivated. The main reasons why both my phal cornu-cervi plants are not flowering could be that both the watering regime (2-3 times weekly) and medium (same as for the majority of my phals) are not suitable for them, and that the root developments are poor (see Strange Root Behaviors) as a result of the unsuitable watering regime and media. Other possible reasons may include insufficient sunlight and lack of flowering stimuli ( i.e. it is still not the flowering season). Plants could also still be establishing and acclimatizing themselves.

Nurseries often sell phal cornu-cervi plants either grown in empty baskets with no medium or mounted on logs with no sphagnum moss. They are likely to be watered at least once a day* to compensate for the lack of moisture retaining media. Despite the absence of growing media, the high humidity in nurseries often keeps the roots moist longer thus giving more time for water absorption. Also, the high humidity may decrease transpiration rates thus minimizing water loss by plants. Heavy dew at night may also supply additional moisture to the roots. The roots dry out between the frequent waterings (or at least once a day) due to the lack of media to retain moisture; the roots are not not kept perpetually wet for long periods of time.

Thus, this phal species may respond better to frequent waterings with the roots allowed to dry out frequently between waterings as compared to watering 2-3 times weekly and keeping the roots perpetually moist for long periods.

They will be remounted soon with a change in medium and watering regime.