New to orchids from Oregon - Phal question - Orchid Board

Narnia · #1 (**permalink**) 06-30-2009, 06:18 PM

I bought my first phal a few months ago and it did so well that I bought another one. The first one is still doing great -all of its buds have bloomed and they're all looking fresh and gorgeous. However, my second phal has a dying flower which is crispy and a second flower which looks like it's on the same path. It also has some black spotting under its leaves although the tops look fine.

Is this just the end of it's flowering and I'm being paranoid, or should I be concerned?

mayres · #2 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 02:41 AM

I'd keep a close eye on those black spots - black on leaves is usually a sign of disease - if it starts spreading best to sacrifice the leaf before it spreads to the rest of the plant. You might run some hydrogen peroxide on the area if you have any. Hard to say on flower length when you don't know how long it was blooming before you acquired it. Phals are notorious for dropping BOTH flowers and buds when changing environments - whether it be greenhouse to store to home - VERY common.......

Narnia · #3 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:07 AM

Ok, so I only took pictures of one leaf, but on the other side there's another leaf with a dark green/reddish tinge also with some similar black spots. Are you suggesting to cut them off if it starts to spread? My poor phal only had 4 leaves. I'm scared to lop 2 of them off.

Also, I got it from the same place I got my other one and the change in environment is really benign. The store is right next door and keeps them in a similar atmosphere as my apartment. I know they will sometimes drop flowers and buds because of the change, but neither of my others have.

Do I need to be concerned that a disease will pass to my other phal and oncidium?

RosieC · #4 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 03:11 PM

It's worth keeping this one away from your others to ensure nothing spreads to the healthy ones. Also don't dunk them in the same water for watering.

I'm afraid I'm not sure on other treatment so hopefully someone else can help with that.

Narnia · #5 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:07 PM

I ended up just trading it in to the store for a different one. One without spots.

camille1585 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:11 PM

They let you trade the orchid so long after you bought it? wow! Usually stores never want to trade anything, even if you got it a week ago!

Narnia · #7 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:12 PM

The Smith and Hawkin by me is actually pretty nice. They have a 30-day return policy for plants which are not thriving. They also have very nice orchids.

camille1585 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 08:20 PM

You are extremely lucky! I worked in a garden center a few months last year, and the policy was basically 'you bought it, your problem', unless the person came back with 2-3 days of buying it. They did have some shitty orchids since the person working that area of the store had no clue how to water orchids. I had to give her a crash course in orchid care, and I had to water the vandas every day. If I didn't take care of the vandas they would have been watered once a week at most. At least the garden center recognized my orchid craziness, so I was the one they called when customers had orchid related questions/problems.

s.kallima · #9 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 09:11 PM

I go to Portland occasionally and I love the store (S&H) you are talking about Narnia! (Portland in general is great, like Vancouver Canada with waaayyyy less rain

)
They have nice orchids, sometimes interesting and unusual species (for a garden store): I bought there a great Masdevallia hybrid and a Neofinetia falcata.

I hope your Phal will do well.

Narnia · #10 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 09:51 PM

Thank you. I hope so too. My new one is a different color, but beautiful none the less. I really am impressed with that store. I usually shy away from chains like S&H, but I have to give them credit for being so helpful. Plus, they're reasonably priced which is just really weird to me for a store like that.

I also noticed they just got in a bunch of new ones, but I couldn't get a closer look since my BF was basically dragging me out of the store before I could buy another one (I already bought two this week)

Camille/ I have also noticed some of the nurserys in Portland having pretty shitty orchids. I always thought a nice nursery wold have nicer plants that elsewhere, but I have not been impressed. They always look sickly.