sorry guys cann't get the photos in. I will have to wait for my son to come up next week. He is the computer wiz, not me. But I will try again later when I have more time.

Ice cubes? Never did THAT. Whatever you have been doing seems to be working. If it ain't broke...

elvis----Last month there were a bunch of postings on the forum. Subject: "Phals under ice" they even referenced a web site. I tried it with 4 plants Just to see what would happen, and I am getting some response. I am not sure if this is the right thing to do but I was willing to try it. I am still having problems posting photos but I am trying. My spikes must be two inches tall.

I followed the previous posting and whilst it does seem kind of perverse, it is possible for ice to occur naturally in the tropics- as hail during heavy thunderstorms. Paradoxically this occurs most often during the "summer" when the storms are at their biggest. I have seen the ground covered completely white by this phenomenon, which of course only lasts for a couple of minutes.

ifraser25--I looked at your "My Page" and was able to email you the photos I took. I am not defending nor pormoting this method. I still have my doubts. But I had to try it.

Hmmm. What is the ice supposed to do, besides melt?

You got it...melt! Adding a set number of ice cubes at a predetermined interval is a method of watering phals. This method is used by those who are otherwise unable to determine when to water on an "as needed" basis. The goal is to prevent overwatering.

The two that spiked out are now 6 inches tall. the other two have not shown a thing. I am not sure if it was the ice that did it. Or they were just ready to spike out. I also have a couple of other Phals that are spiking and not being treaded by ice. Like I said it just might be that they were ready to start flowering.

Pretty much any of the commonly sold phal. hybrids should be spiking about now. It's that time of year for them.

Ya, smwboxer, we're got spikage up here in Wisconsin...

But my guys do that year 'round. It must be the room they're in.

The flowering season for most Phals is Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, sonme into Sep. There are some Philippine species that flower Feb, Mar, Apr. If you email me I will send you the culture info.