Phal + Leaves + Problem + Blooms + Semi-Hydro
 

Hello All,

I have a Phal, probably a 'Taisuco Kochdian' that has been in Semi-Hydro for two years, currently in bloom and has 38 blooms. a month ago the leaves started looking a bit soft and droopy, not as firm as they used to be.

Phal is outside, shaded balcony, very bright and no direct sunlight, max temp is 30 c, humidity between 55% - 70%, Semi-Hydro culture, gets flushed twice a week, has been on a diet of slow-release fertilizer Nutricote 13-13-13

I have been misting the leaves a couple of times a day, even placed the pot in a big tray and filled it with water.

the leaves seem to firm up for small period of time and then deteriorate again.

Last summer, I didn't have this issue with the leaves.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you.

http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/x...f/IMG_2038.jpg

http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/x...f/IMG_2040.jpg

http://i756.photobucket.com/albums/x...f/IMG_2039.jpg

I am by no means an expert here, but I think your plants looks fine. Maybe the large quantity of blooms has stressed the plant a bit resulting in the droopy leaves.

Did it have as many blooms last summer?

I wonder if supporting all those blooms is taking a lot out of it, especially if it's hot.

You say it firms up sometimes, that could be when it's loosing less water (through transpiration on the leaves) than it can draw up. At other times in the heat it might be loosing it faster than it can draw it up. The symptoms you describe do sound like dehydration.

The plant over-all looks good. In S/H it's hard to over-water, so it might be worth trying to water a bit more.

---------- Post added at 08:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:08 AM ----------

The tray of water might not do much if it's not in contact with the leca. Tests have shown that humidity trays do little a short way above the surface, as the more humid air drops over the edge and falls to the ground.

Have you tried just bringing it back inside?...Jean

Thank you for your insight Joyorchid, I was thinking the same as well.

---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:43 PM ----------

Thank you RosieC,

No last year it only had 11 blooms on one spike, this year I have 2 spikes with 38 blooms, a new leaf that is growing as well and lots of roots.

It appears as the blooms are maturing, meaning as we approach full bloom, the leaves are looking droopier...

What I just did, is plug the holes with a type of plaster paste and filled the pot to the top, I am going to let it soak for a couple of hours and see what the result would be.

I was watering 2 to 3 times per week, full pot flushing. Last year the Phal was in the same spot and had the same weather conditions.

I am worried that I am going to get a permanent damage of the leaves.

---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:48 PM ----------

Hello Jean,

I am afraid that if I bring it back inside, the blooms will start dropping, on top of that it is not as bright inside.

I'm with Rosie, I think it's dehydrated. 38 blooms is a lot for a plant to support along with leaves. I'd bet you could water everyday while it's in bloom and it would be lots happier.

It sounds like a good idea to give it a good soak, like Terri says I think you could then water daily during the hot weather and while it's in bloom. In S/H that should not be a problem.

Problem solved.

I was advised by a friend who has a PhD in Botany and a member on a different orchid forum, to water the plant daily, remove the slow release fertilizer for about two weeks and to only use R.O water when misting. I moved the plant inside after it fully bloomed. Now everything is back to normal and the leaves are very firm.