My very first Phal in trouble

[Tindomul]

I repotted my first Phal 3 months ago from Sphag to orchid bark mix. Today I looked at it to water it, and found that the leaves are getting wrinkly, kinda soft, NOT MUSHY, but more like I need water so Im turning soft kinda soft. Have I been underwatering this plant? Overwatering? ITs has lots of roots on top, and quickly checked some of the roots just below the substrate. They all seemed fine. I don't get it.

Thanks.

[Djarum Black]

Hey Tin,

If it was used to sprag it's probably going to take a while to adjust. Bark dries out a good deal faster then sprag. Plus depending on the stage of growth the plant is in, it uses more water. When my phals are blooming for example, they suck up a boat load of water.
Sounds like your just going to need to find your phals happy place

[Ross]

Yeah, I have rarely had a problem with Phals except when I had hale damage or when they were getting used to a new regimine. As a side note, if you have any KLN solution, why not water exclusively with KLN for a few weeks until new roots are forced out? I wouldn't hesitate to water every other day for a while until the new roots emerge. As DJ says, a major change in medium like that will probably lead to wilting (I think that is what you see.) You might also try putting a plastic bag over the plant to increase humidity for a few weeks. Keep us informed.

[justatypn]

How ironic Tindo...looked at mine yesterday and had repotted 3 of my phals 2 months agao, one from bark to mount, the other two alike medium. Yeppers soft but not mushy leaves with one of them in bud. Was told I needed to water a bit more...so like you...time will tell. Stinks that over and under look-a-like in ways to make us wonder....gl with yours...

[Lagoon]

I can't say I've really ever had problems transplanting phals in bloom or out, Perhaps I've been just lucky. Even spikes can tear thru the leaves. It can get pretty wild

You also might be seeing these kinda sickly leaves becuz roots and forming in place of the older leaves. When I have peeled back some of my not so great leaves, since they we're on they're way out anyways .... I've seen new roots trying to get thru.
Your leaves are probably going, it just time now.

Are you seeing growth from the tops, any newer leaves comming up?

[Tindomul]

Thanks guys, Cheryl, DJ, Ross, Lagoon.
This is the best kind of problem to have in my opinion. Underwatering.
The Phal has lots of new roots outside the media, not to sure about under. I repotted when I noticed the Phal putting out some new roots. I'll try that K-L-N thing. I have some at home.
Lagoon, to many of the leaves are wrinkly, like an old prune. So I don't think its ment to loose them all. And I don't see any new roots.
Poor little phal. This is the one that grew a seed pod last year, and did a lot of growing at the same time. Then a few months ago I dropped it and damaged all of its leaves.

[Lagoon]

Not too discourage anyone, But this is alot of the problem I had with bark, seems I couldn't keep the proper moisture level. It was either to wet and rotted away quickly along with my orchid or dried out and very difficult to reclaim good moisture level.

So for me me, It went, Overwater, underwater, overwater, then again underwater.
Ok I hate bark -- I said it

Tin, New roots are a good sign - Don't forget it's growing season
You may loose some leaves and it sucks I know
But growth is super fast when our summers are here - Thank the lord

How about the other thing Ross said -- To bag it to gain more moisture

[justatypn]

You know Gloria I did notice that the main one had roots appear and or growing in length between the better or the few looking leaves obviously its a matter of time and plenty of TLC. Watering cycle is like balancing a scale for phal happiness

[Gin]

Tindo , If there are a lot of roots out of the pot they might not be getting enough moisture , I would see what is in the pot .
Also new bark repels water to a degree so if not many roots in the pot it is thirsty . Gin

[Tindomul]

I'll check it out. This is a NOID, but its special cause it was one of my first three orchids and my first Phal. Hmmmm, maybe I should put it in S/H, Haven't lost an orchid that way yet.