No new leaves in 2 years - Orchid Board

opal · #1 11-09-2011, 01:33 PM

Hi

I have a problem I can't seem to figure how to fix. I have this noID phal, for 2 years and it's the most complicated plant to grow in my collection. When I bought it, in bloom, didn't really know what I got. Now I can tell you, it is mottled leaf species mix with scented peloric flowers and such combination is nothing I have seen ever since. The problem with it is, it is not growing leaves. When I bought it, it had 8 leaves and 3 stems. Right now it's down to 5 leaves. I lost 3 of them as soon as I got it home.

2 years later, he still has those 5 leaves.

He flowers on a very predictable schedule. The flowers last for 3 months, then has a month of a break, then pushes either new stem, or side stems on an old one and flowers again.

I thought I was finally making a move into the right direction when I saw a small leaf at the base of a plant, but as soon as I spotted it, it stopped growing and remained the size of a small coin. You can see it on a pic below. As soon as I spotted that abomination of a leaf, it started to push another flower stem right next to another one growing from the top. And that new stem is growing rapidly.

So my question is, how can I stop this plant from flowering all the time and how can I motivate mottled leaves production?

I grow various orchids together: oncidiums, dendrobiums, paphiopedilums, miltonia and 2 phals and I am not new into growing them and making plants flower but this is beyond my level of expertise. Every single plant flowers for me. As scheduled. As predicted. Nothing unusual happens. Even this one flowers (too much IMO). They all look healthy and normal. I even grow nepenthes next to them. Humidity is always in 55-70% range. I don't fertilize thought. I did it once, 2 years ago and a leaf on my oncidium started drooping so I stopped. I only have 4-4-7 fert available. I don't think it's the result of no fertilization.

The only thing I did more often when I saw a leaf is misting. And then the flower stem appeared. Seriously this is the most bizarre and weirdo plant existing ever. Nothing compares to it! And not to mention that the stem is growing away from the window and from the lights in my room towards the wall. Go figure. Maybe it gets too much light??? If anybody can figure this brain twister and help me out, it would be greatly appreciated.

The thing when bought

The thing today er..week ago

Peloric flowers

orchidsarefun · #2 11-09-2011, 02:17 PM

I had something similar happen with 2 grocery store ( TJs ) phals. They did nothing for 4 months, despite me fertilising and watering on schedule. However since moving them closer to a south-facing window in Fall/Autumn - where they get DIRECT sun , they are growing both roots and new leaves...fast.
I think that maybe the store bought phals are sprayed with something that preserves flowers and prevents leaf growth for a while. But 2 yrs ! Maybe move it to where it can get sun - orchid culture seems a personal thing, providing you follow basic guidelines.

opal · #3 11-09-2011, 02:24 PM

I'm not really sure it's the sun because they flower. Orchids flower when they have enough light. If not enough light no flowers. And this thing just waits for a chance to flower again. I have no south facing windows in an apartment even if it is the sun.

keithrs · #4 11-09-2011, 02:31 PM

I can't recommend direct sunlight.... Is that third spike coming out of the center of the plant?(the one with the leaf)

opal · #5 11-09-2011, 02:43 PM

Yes, from the center and has small leaf in the middle of it size of a coin. A week ago, new stem started right next to the centered one, you can see the reddish dot on the pic below that one.

nenella · #6 11-09-2011, 02:58 PM

Hi, Your plant will not be growing leaves normally anymore (out of the middle of the plant) It has had a terminal spike (one growing out of the middle) It will probably keikie (little leaf growing on flower stem) Just keep on looking after it as you have been doing and you will get new plant(s) from it.
keep us posted to see how long it does take to get keikies. You will then have to wait till they grow roots (2/3 inches) before repotting.
Good luck!

opal · #7 11-09-2011, 03:57 PM

What???

I already bought it with terminal spike?

Ah well, still didn't push a keiki and stems are growing, seems it feels fine with me then, not ready to die yet. And it grows second terminal spike! Seriously, could I get any more genetically deformed plant?

Ah well, I only hope it will push 10 keikis so I can grow it more properly and maybe then it won't have this terminal spike....maybe...

ryrycochinco · #8 11-09-2011, 04:57 PM

What a weird plant.

Cym Ladye · #9 11-11-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryrycochinco

What a weird plant.

In my experience, orchids of any genera exhibiting peloric flowers are often "crippled" in growth patterns too. Be Patient. Sometimes repotting in fresh mix will help stimulate new leaves.

CL

opal · #10 11-12-2011, 04:21 AM

Interesting theory. Unfortunately repotting won't help as it is already in clay pebbles and they can stay there forever as far as I know.

So far the plant showed most to almost all flowers being peloric but last 2 flowering it had one flower open 4 petals and then 2 flowers open 4 petals. That really made me wonder about genetic defects and poor care and made me wonder if continuous good care would make a single flower non peloric one day?

But I am more prone to believe it is a terminal spike, that is causing all this no new leaves problem rather than genetic defects. And this is creating even more questions: like why I still haven't seen a single keiki? And how long can such plant live before it dies. And if fertilizing would help it last longer but have no keiki? And even if I get a keiki, how would it look like/differ from mother plant and would it be harder to grow or easier as I don't know what this plant has been through before I bought it? (I know what keiki is lol, thus in advanced section). And if maybe this plant was forced to produce a terminal spike in order to collect keikis so I'll have no more....