Mini Phalenopsis growing roots but not leaves or flowers

[SouthPark]

I agree with Camille ----- about orchid leaves. I did see a video/clip once about somebody saying 'epiphyte orchids evolved to get nutrients through their leaves' or something along those lines. Hard to say if this is actually even true. We definitely know that orchids are going to get their nutrients through their roots - the regular way ------- so I just apply weak fertiliser the regular way (eg. once a month) ----- into the growing media (which probably hangs around in the media for a while) - which gets into the roots and into the plant whenever we do the watering. And when roots get longer and longer, they'll get into regions where some fertiliser is still hanging around (whenever the water is applied - I think).

[Mr.Fakename]

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Some scientific researches confirm that orchids can feed through their leaves, but not all nutrients, and in different quantities.

The amount of absorbed nutrients is so low that it doesn't make a huge difference anyway, the roots being far, far more efficient.

Here's a very good article by Sue Bottom : https://staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/O...ySueBottom.pdf
And another one by Linda Chalker-Scott in the Phalaenopsis review : (PDF) Do epiphytic orchids benefit from foliar fertilizers?

That said I noticed that as salts buildup starts appearing on the thick, waxy leaves of Phal violacea, amboinensis, hieroglyphica etc; deciduous Phal like lowii, lobbii or finleyi have pristine clean leaves.

Maybe decidous plants have evolved to get as much food as possible.
Here are pics for comparison!

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[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

The leaves look slightly wrinkled to me, which makes me wonder about underwatering. Are the healthy roots extending into the medium, or only above it?