Who Has the Correct Answer?

[gmdiaz]

My humidity was too low. . .but maybe your light was too high?

It might be just a reaction to being too stressed. Maybe by being too dried out, relative to the combination of light, temp and humidity?

[Ross]

See, I'm liking the heredity thing. I'm thinking some 'chids just do this for whatever reason. If it were humidity or dryness, then wrinking would be a part of the scenario (I suspect). If light were too high, then redness, or white spots, etc. would be a suspect. I don't see this with the plants being discussed. I'm thinking "it just happens". That's my 2 cents

[gmdiaz]

I didn't actually see redness on the leaves either, now that you mention it but I did see a little bit of wrinkling.

There has to be a reason. . .

Maybe there was physical damage that I didn't notice happening at the time. . .those thicker leaves do damage easily. Maybe I bumped it on something taking it in and out of the grow rack, thwaped it with the tip of the water bottle or something. As the leaf grew out a bit more, the split (or damage) then became apparent.

That's my best theory. . .

[snow]

how about 99.5% ross?
all kidding aside i think biker doc got it right with his suggestion that the leave is growing faster than the midrif. did i say that right?

[unhappykat]

I have had phals split like that on occasion but I cant really say what causes it, mine are outside so humidity is not a problem and they are watered every three days so they never dry out. Maybe they just get too happy and burst, I usually get this on phals that come from thailand and malaysia as unnamed mericlones, maybe they have a defect that hasn't yet been discovered.

[Don Perusse]

Ross - rain, rain, and more rain!

[Ross]

See most Phals grow epiphytically (on trees) in high rain areas. So high moisture shouldn't be the problem. If the roots are kept really wet, then rot occurs, but that isn't the issue here. I've seen Doc's collection and his methods are fine to me . But if this happens frequently to certain plants, then I'm back to genetics. Rain in a greenhouse, an orchidarium or a house (Heaven forbid) would not be the cause.

[BikerDoc5968]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ross

[Ross]

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ross

I was just about to take a pic of mine when I decided to water instead Didn't want water on the photo stage. Will post soon, but my point is, even with proper culture, temps, light, etc. we still get this sometimes. Guess that's your point? Right? In the end I would say don't swet it. Doesn't appear to hurt the plant or the blooming either.

[Mike O'C]

I am more curious to know what the"spots" are on your leaves than I am about the splitting of the ends. Have you checked for red spider or false spider mites. Also your leaves seem "ridged" which might suggest too low humidity. Red spider and false spider mites in my experience seem to thrive best in a less humid atmosphere.