Who Has the Correct Answer?

[BikerDoc5968]

What causes Phal leaves to split like these? The plants are otherwise healthy and growing. The new leaves split as they grow larger. Is this because they are growing faster than the length will allow? Or is it dryness in my GH .....or just what has been your experience??????

[Tindomul]

That happened to my Mini Mark, but only the first leaf that matured. So I would also like to know the answer.

[bonsai1504]

it happens to mine too and i have no clue what is causing it.

[Ross]

I get this on several Angraecoides as well. Mine don't split through the leaf like yours, but still have the split scars.

[maitaman]

It seems to be genetic. I've had plants that do that. So long as you're careful fungus or bacteria don't infect them it doesn't seem to hurt anything.

[Dorothy]

I found this -
"The normal cause for leaves splitting as yours are is low humidity or the potting mix being allowed to become too dry between waterings. Both of these conditions take months to show their affects.

My suggestion is to leave them alone, they are probably healthy even if they don't look very nice. The primary reason for leaving them alone is because phals. use their leaves to store water and food to help sustain it, cutting off a leaf or leaves can deprive it of this. This is not to say that removing them will kill the phal, only that it will not have a reserve source of sustinance." from Orchids: Leaves are splitting, new leaves, potting mix

[Lene Th.]

Interesting, Dorothy!
I have a few that has splits, and a few with splitted ends as well, and has been woundering about this.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

I found this -
"The normal cause for leaves splitting as yours are is low humidity or the potting mix being allowed to become too dry between waterings. Both of these conditions take months to show their affects.

My suggestion is to leave them alone, they are probably healthy even if they don't look very nice. The primary reason for leaving them alone is because phals. use their leaves to store water and food to help sustain it, cutting off a leaf or leaves can deprive it of this. This is not to say that removing them will kill the phal, only that it will not have a reserve source of sustinance." from Orchids: Leaves are splitting, new leaves, potting mix

Interesting, except mine are kept at 99% humidity. 100% would be pretty wet, I suspect Not my Phals, but my Angraecoides.

[gmdiaz]

I think it's that the humidity is too low. . .especially for the thicker leafed types. . .like phals or sedirea.

When I bumped up the humidity it seemed to keep it from happening any more with new leaves.

But I am guessing from not much experience. . .

[Ross]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

I think it's that the humidity is too low. . .especially for the thicker leafed types. . .like phals or sedirea.

When I bumped up the humidity it seemed to keep it from happening any more with new leaves.

But I am guessing from not much experience. . .

How do you get higher than 99%