growth disorder?

[henniesteyn]

Hi everyone,
a couple of my plants shows some kind of "growth disorder"? The new leaves are smaller than the old ones. the growth is good, spikes are great and roots healthy. They get light, water & fertilizer like all the others. any ideas, suggestions?

[unhappykat]

I am not sure what causes this to happen in orchids.
I would like to hear comments about it as well.
To me it looks as if the plants, especially phals are growing too fast for their own good.
I have several phals with the same growth pattern that bloom just fine.

[Ray]

Are they new acquisitions, or old plants that changed the way they grow?

Please tell us details about your growing conditions and feeding regimen.

Frankly, it looks to me like a reaction to a hormone or other chemical...

[squashcat]

I would love to get an answer to this as well. I have a Phal with the same growth pattern...in fact, it hasn't put out a new leaf in over a year! It came this way from the mail-order vendor, and has never produced a new leaf for me. But the roots are actively growing and it blooms like clockwork. It did put out a basal keiki which is huge now. At least I have an extra if this one is done for.

[unhappykat]

I just grow mine outside for spring to fall and inside they go for winter. No hormones, weird fertilizers or anything like that. It happens only to my hybrid phals, species are not bothered by it and they grow side by side. Happens to plants at random, new or old, the newest leaves just come out smaller and keep coming out that way. For me anyway.

[Sandy4453]

It seems this thread got posted twice...growth disorder?

I'd be curious to read all comments from both. Any way we can consolidate these into one thread?

[Cym Ladye]

I am going to make a guess here that this is related to a change in light and humidity. To me, the plant leaves appear to have been subjected to a high light and low humidity environment which might reflect dry summer conditions. When you bring them indoors, house or greenhouse, the light will change as well as the humidity and temperature. Do you notice the difference more at the end of the summer or the end of winter?

Try increasing the humidity around the plants and maintaining a more constant environment. Phals need humidity and I suspect the hybrids may be more sensitive than the species to extremes.

Keep us posted.

CL

[unhappykat]

i have noticed this happening at any time, indoors and out, and cant figure it out. I dont have high humidity but all my plants are outside and all grow just fine, vandas and catts grow alongside them with no trouble. For me it seems to happen to random plants at random times. I have had it happen to some plants on only a single leaf and others to the entire crown of foliage. it is very odd.

[Cookiemonster]

I have had that happen with two phals- they were new acquisitions- and I think one leaf that was previously growing- stopped because of the shock in temperature, light, humidity change. It even did some weird curling thing that I've never seen before. But the new leaf that started growing in my environment has been totally normal
If your conditions are constant- then I have no idea whats going on.
Good luck!!

[Sun rm.N.E.]

I agree with Ray.
I had similar fast growth without mature development when I used too much growth regulators like KLN ore Superthrive. Once I had a cattleya produce 8 tiny leads instead of the usual 2 that never developed to normal size. However, it later developed normal growth.