Phal need East facing windows?

[Jennie]

Hi there!

I hope to get some expert advice, or... hey! Any advice at all!

I abs adore my Phal. It was given to me when I had an aortic dissection and nearly died four years ago.
I had NO clue how to keep it and I've learned so much, here! But, I'm still a novice, and struggling!

So... I live in Oregon and I have no East facing windows!

What is the next best? Currently the leaves on my Phal are split from who knows what!

When I received the orchid, the roots were in a plastic bag with water in them. (?) I read about Phals and thought, "This couldn't be good!" Even though, it was quite healthy and flowering.
So, I took it out and tried my best to do what I'd read. I put it in mix that had been soaked, after removing some of the mushy roots.
Well? I'm STILL not getting it right. Sometimes I think I should have left it in that plastic! Because the leaves are splitting.
I have tons of new root growth, but they are all out of the potting mix. (Air roots?)
It keeps trying to spike, but then it rots half way up the spike. Each time I get a new spike, I pray that it won't rot, but it keeps doing it! I guess praying doesn't do much for spikes.

So? Do you need a picture? Would that help?

Please help me. For some reason I feel like if I can keep this alive, it's a good sign for me, too!

Thanks!
Jen

[Ross]

Mine are in a south-facing window in clear plastic pots with coarse bark mix. I water when the pot looks dry and the roots turn white with green tips. Splitting leaves (at the tips) are not all that uncommon. Don't know what it means, but doesn't seem to make a difference. Just my two cents.

[Jennie]

Oh, how thrilling! Thank you!
I can't believe I got an answer so quickly!
I'm so excited about all of this. I can truly relate to how excited you guys get when you get a new spike, etc.
I watch my plant every day. Can't wait to get up to look and see if anything new happened.
Do you think I'm crazy?
Jen

[snow]

no jenn you just caught the orchid decease. we,ve all got it and there is no cure.the only thing that will not.make you absolutely mad; is to go out and buy 2 or more orchids.

[edwardwang]

If you live in the northern hemisphere, east or south are the good positions. South is better for outdoor growers.
Grow more phals, it will be easier to find something new.

[Jennie]

Yes. I need to stick with the EASY button for now.

Phals are that, right?

Anyhow, yes. I asked for them for Christmas, but Santa didn't think so. Maybe he looked at my existing one. LOL

My sister, who is a plant person in downtown Portland told me to give up on it and throw it away. "Get a new one!" and told me it isn't worth the trouble to save this one. I just can't! I want to save it!

Also... I want more! More! More!

That way, I'll have more to look at in the morning and more to be excited about.

I think it's partially about the fact that my kids have left the roost and now I have new babies to care for! How can you throw your child away? LOL

[lostonthebeach]

More, more, more is always a good philosophy with orchids. Keep in mind that the more you have the more chances you have to learn.
I admire your persistence.

[quiltergal]

If it's sending out new roots and continues to grow well then it's most certainly not dying! I'm not sure what to tell you about the rotting spikes. It almost sounds like they are getting wet when you water, and then like crown rot, bacterial rot starts in the sheath of the spike and spreads like wild fire. A little more light may solve your leaf splitting problem, but only if they are splitting mid leaf, not at the tips. You might want to consider a grow light. All of my plants are in a south facing window with T5 lighting. All of my Phals (except the summer bloomers) are spiking right now.

[Jennie]

Alright... Here we go!

I own another board, and I've never used it from a member's standpoint!

The gallery is so easy to use! Wonderful! Now, let's see if I can post them, here!

As you can see, my phal (It is a ... phal... can you tell me how to spell it? isn't it?

It is growing spikes every year, but then they die. I have put cinnamon on the ends so they don't further rot, but I did have to cut them off. They got a bunch of that sweet sap on them and just folder over. I was so disappointed.

So, I've got a bunch of half-spikes! I have never heard anyone else have this problem! I'm a failure!

But, I do have good root growth! Not long ago, (a month) I trimmed the roots because they were mushy.

Now what should I do?

Also, on the spikes, there is new growth. At least it looks that way to me, but it never does a thing but just look that way!

Can anyone help me be more productive? I would just die if it bloomed again! I got it to rebloom once, the first year. That's it! I'm keeping it alive, but barely!

Jen



Lookee at that little tiny green thing! That's been there for MONTHS! LOL. It won't grow OR die!



See? I have no roots, but about four spikes doing nothing! Should I cut them back?



What is coming out of that node? A bird? A plane? A kikki?



I sure wish I knew how to post pictures like you guys do. I love the other way- where all the little pictures line up at the bottom!

Are those attachments, then?

Thank you! Is there a doctor in the house?

OK. I attached my "sick leaves" photo. The leaves are all split!

[Jennie]

Oh, you guys! I'm so excited for someone to help me make this a healthier plant!