Finger-nail sized leaves on grocery store phal

[Als]

I know that stressed orchids form tiny leaves, but this seems extreme. There is a new leaf forming when the previous leaf is smaller than finger nail sized. The previous two leaves are small (~ 1/3 of normal), which is concerning but not unusual for new grocery store orchids. Baby leaves forming baby leaves seems like a bigger problem.

Other details:

* Roots not spectacular, but not worse than I'd expect from a first repot of a grocery store orchid.

* Orchid is peloric

* Strangely there is what looks a broken off flower spike *above* the flower spike that is active.

* I just repotted for the first time today, I usually wait for the flowers to fade, but the leaf sizes seem extreme. A lot of old rotting media very stuck to the roots. I washed off and trimmed dead roots.

* I know I should cut the flower spike, but haven't yet. Other than the tiny leaves nothing else about this orchid's condition seems alarming to me.

* Orchid was under a bright LED panel, I'm moving to a less bright location in case that's the issue. New leaves are coming in very purple, so might be too much light?

[Roberta]

No need to cut the flower spike. Phals don't seem to mind being repotted in bloom. For the rest, pot it up and just observe... If the new leaves are very purple, yes that's in indication that light might be too intense, so you are correct to back it off a bit. The roots look quite decent.

[Als]

Always helpful!

I wasn't thinking I need to cut the spike because of the repotting - but because the leaves look like something is really wrong. But I guess I'll just let her be and see if she figures this out on her own.

[Roberta]

A lot of the photos are just showing up as broken links. But the one photo that i can see, the only small leaves I see are at the top - and those just look like new ones. Or, you may also have new growths showing in the photos I can't see. Which are quite normal... some Phals make new grows (basal keikis), growing into a clump, which can produce a really nice display of flowers. Here's hoping!

[aliceinwl]

For what it’s worth a lot of the grocery store Phalaenopsis I’ve bought have pushed one tiny leaf that just stalls; I’ve assumed this was related to growers forcing them to bloom. If the plant is healthy, the next leaf has always made it to normal size.

[SouthPark]

Make sure the regions pointed to by the arrow aren't signs of rotting.



Maintain (if not already) good air circulation and air movement around the plant (including leaves and roots and growing media).

[Orchidking]

I won't get any more IKEA orchids for the reasons mentioned here.
I've got a 4 month old ikea phal here that has stalled - its not produced a single root or leaf in 4 months time which is not normal - it is however flowering again so how long after I bought it will it grow normally again? Just not worth it, by the time it does recover Ikea will be selling the next lot just as cheap...

[rbarata]

Phals (and most orchids in general) do what they want at their own pace, which is usually slow. One common say is that orchids teach us patience.

Just not worth it, by the time it does recover Ikea will be selling the next lot just as cheap...

If is has recovered by then, what does it matter if the next lot is as cheap as the previous.
You will learn a lot by recovering orchids.

[Ray]

I would agree that if that leaf has turned purple since you acquired the pant, it's getting too much light.

[Dollythehun]

Plants in general will produce smaller(or in shade larger, longer) leaves in response to too much light.