Mini Phalenopsis growing roots but not leaves or flowers

[ficargill]

Hi all

I am new to this group and hoping to get some advice on how to help my mini phalenopsis. I have had it for at least four years and have not had flowers since the first year.

I think initially I over watered it and the leaves turned brown and fell off. I have since manged to mostly save it but it still doesn't seem to be doing great. It has been re-potted once and is in a window that appears to give good light. I have two other Phalenopsis at the same window that regularly produce new flowers and stems.

The plant in question did initially grow new leaves after I nearly killed it but has now stopped, it has continued to produce new roots though. The leaves it does have are a very dark green and don't look as healthy as my other plants, is there anything else I can do to help it? I don't want to give up on it. Thank you in advance!!

[Mr.Fakename]

Very dark green leaves and no blooms are a sign that your Phal might not getting enough light.

Usually small Phal need more light due to their ancestry, and the fact that they have less mass for photosynthesis.

If your window isn't south oriented you can try putting the plant a bit closer to it, now that summer is fading you're less at risk for sunburn.

What fertiliser are you using?

[SouthPark]

fic ----- some new members have to post 5 times or something before some orchidboard software automatically enables image uploading.

So post 4 more times, and then upload images of the orchid, and describe the growing conditions - temperature, temperature range, lighting level, lighting duration.

Some other new members - for some reason - have been seen to upload images without needing a post-count of five. So could certainly just try uploading 1 pic, just to see if you can upload a picture.

[ficargill]

Thank you for the quick response!

The orchid is in a south facing window and gets filtered sun for most of the day. The sunlight is not direct as window looks out onto the side of the house and is in close proximity to the house next door. I'm not sure of temp but can try to find out.

When I re-potted it I used a orchid potting mix I bought at the garden centre (looks like mini bark chippings). I very occasionally spray with orchid mist but to be honest this is sporadic as I mostly forget so it gets done maybe once a year when I stumble across the bottle. I don't think I have ever bought a fertilser, should I be doing this?

I will try and add some photos.

[ficargill]

Hopefully the attachments work!

I have had my other orchids for three years and they seem to be doing ok in the same space?

[SouthPark]

This one looks like it's growing just fine. For fertiliser, just get some liquid fertiliser suitable for orchids.

I just use some widely available one over here --- "yates thrive orchid liquid plant food" ----- that's what they call it. I just apply it with one-quarter to one-third of their recommended dose ----- once a month. I apply it on the first day of each month. Then at the middle of the month (two weeks into each month) ---- I provide weak magnesium-calcium treatment.

Your orchid appears to be growing just fine. Not sure why its leaf colour is darker than the rest of the phals there. Maybe you could place it slightly closer to the light source ------- but looks like you already have done that. So the only other option could be to put it in a spot where it gets more 'duration' of light in the day time. Not more intense light, but just more duration.

[ficargill]

Brilliant, thanks for the advice. I will get some at the weekend.

Has it not grown a stem in the last three years because it's slow growing? It did have to grow new leaves after I nearly drowned it which has probably not helped!!

[Mr.Fakename]

Light seems perfectly fine considering the overall looks of your Phals, but a repot wouldn't hurt.

The dark coloration is nothing to worry about, some are darker than others!

Akerne's Rain Mix is one of the best fertilisers in Europe; I don't know if the one SouthPark recommends is available here.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by ficargill

Has it not grown a stem in the last three years because it's slow growing? It did have to grow new leaves after I nearly drowned it which has probably not helped!!

If it just keeps growing new leaves, then that's great. If it had nearly drowned at one stage, then it looks like it did well to get back into action again.

If this orchid's roots are fine, and the leaves are good ----- then that is really good already. To keep the orchids healthy and nice for very long times (and to see some flowers every once in a while) ----- just need to make sure that their growing requirements and flowering requirements are met. Usually - good temperature, good temperature range, good lighting level, and good lighting duration, occasional weak fertiliser, occasional weak mag-cal treatment, and watering/potting/media conditions that keep the roots healthy, good draining pot (for regular orchid roots), and gentle air movement in the growing area ------- these are elements that I look into for my own orchids (among some other things too).

[camille1585]

That plant looks pretty good given everything its gone through! The light levels sounds fine as well. I wouldn't worry about the lack of new leaf growth, it looks like the plant has been quite busy growing roots, which should give the plant a strong foundation from which is can produce leaves with next year.

As to the fertilizer you use, orchids need so little that fertilization comes rather low in the list of things you can do to ensure your plants are happy. Good culture and conditions will achieve far more. That said, any somewhat balanced fertilizer will do, so don't feel pressured to rush out to buy some specific type. Do use a fertilizer to be applied via watering, orchid leaves are rather thick and waxy and don't take up the foliar mist stuff very well.

I use the Akerne Rain Mix that Mr.Fakename mentions, though you do need a rather pure source of water (very few minerals in it, such as rain water) to use it with.