Help! What's wrong with my phal?! - Orchid Board

wheresmyshoe · #1 10-19-2009, 10:41 PM

I'm a relatively new orchid owner and I've had this phal for approximately 6 months. About a month or so ago I noticed 2 new roots, and I thought everything was going well. This past week, the leaves have taken on an old and weathered look, and the stalk is dying. I know that phals don't rebloom on the same stalk, but my last phal died when I cut the stalk so I left this one. Any ideas what I can do? Is it okay? I live in FL and the phal sits in the east window. I water it once a week.

ardera · #2 10-20-2009, 12:10 AM

I would have to guess that it needs more water. I only water my Phal once a week, but it is in moss. In bark, you would need to water more, since it does not hold water as long as the moss would. Actually when I told my local orchid nursery, that I only watered my Phal once a week, I swear the woman was going to have a heart attack! When I told her it was in moss, then she breathed easy and said, "that is probably why you can get away only watering it once a week".

ardera · #3 10-20-2009, 12:14 AM

Oh, and it is ok to cut the spike. You can either cut it all the way off, or part way. More info about cutting the spike (Thank you Ray)

I had decided to cut mine all the way off (2 of them) because he had been blooming for over a year, and I wanted to give him a break, time to recoup!

camille1585 · #4 10-20-2009, 04:05 AM

Cutting spikes off is absolutely not going to kill a phal! You just had an unlucky coincidence.
First of all, you should unpot and have a look at the roots. If there are many rotten ones, that's the cause of the problem. If the roots are fine, then lack of water is the problem. Your bark looks really really dry. How and how often are you watering it? Before repotting (if the roots are good) you probably should soak the bark a while to open up the 'pores' so it will retain more water.

Watering depends on your location. All mine are in bark, and in my case in the winter they get water every 7-10 days. In the summer it's every 3-7 days. But it really depends.

wheresmyshoe · #5 10-20-2009, 11:12 AM

What do I do if some of the roots are dead? I can't cut them off like I can an old spike, can I?

My first orchid was a phal. It was in moss, and I watered it once a week. All the leaves started to develop yellow spots and die, so I looked at the roots and they were all dead. I read an orchid book that said moss retained too much water for orchids, so I switched to bark.

Orchid126 · #6 10-20-2009, 03:11 PM

It just isn't how often you water, but how well you water when you do. The saying goes, you can't water an orchid enough, but you can water too often. Make sure you hold the plant under the tap and let the water pour through for a full couple of minutes. It takes a while for the bark to absorb enough water. When you repotted, did you soak the bark for a couple of hours before using it? It takes a lot of water to reach the center core of the bark. Otherwise the water just runs over the outer crust of the bark and doesn't really get it wet enough.

camille1585 · #7 10-20-2009, 04:12 PM

You can cut off any roots which are completely hollow or mushy. Anything else is still good.

Dorothy · #8 10-20-2009, 06:24 PM

... or if the roots are black ..
some brown roots are good roots ..
Give them the squeeze test ..
hold the root between your fingers and give it a gentle squeeze
If there is 'tone' to the root .. then it's good ..

Wheresmyshoe ...

great screen name ..
Oh by the way, it's under your bed next to the half-eaten Twinkie ...

cowboy51278 · #9 10-20-2009, 07:43 PM

definatley not enough moisture. potting media is too big and won't retain enough moisture for a phal, especially in a clay pot which will wick the moisture out of the media. Its all about culture. Medium-Large bark + Clay pot + Orchid that needs even moisture = more frequent waterings or changing the orchids situation (sponge rock/moss mixture)

Doc G · #10 10-21-2009, 02:15 AM

I'm wondering if you repotted it into the clay pot, which seems a little large. I think if it has been in that pot for very long, then the pot should be showing signs of moisture stains, maybe even salts, but it looks brand new. Which would mean insufficient watering. When you water, be sure to water all around the surface of the media, otherwise the water may just drain through in one area.