FAIL-an -opsis

[nemesis]

Question...so I have been growing for about 18 months and as I stated earlier, b/c of the power going out for a week in January, I lost all of my phalanopsis but 3. The 3 that survived, plus 2 new acquisitions are not doing well. The ones I lost in the power outage were not exactly thriving, either. As far as I can tell, I am doing everything right. They have robust roots, I water every day as they are in large grade orchiciata bark, are in dappled shade, and my humidity is a constant 80%. Temps are in low 60’s to 70’s. They look like they are under watered and subjected to low humidity. Leaves are limp, and leathery. I fertilize with Nutricote every six months, and bump that routine with Ray’s Regime, weakly, weekly. My other orchids are thriving. I have exclusively Angraecoids, and Cattleyas. I just have no idea where I’m going wrong. I have read everything I can on the forum including the Phal AbuseStops Here, etc. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. In addition, the Phal have come from my local Lowe’s. Thanks for listening.
Kelly

[Roberta]

Photos would help. Certainly those that got cold damage may take some time to recover. Or not... problem with monopodial orchids (single growth point, the "crown") means that the genus doesn't have much of a backup plan. (A sympodial orchid like a Catt or Oncidium, that grows along a rhizome, can often activate an othewise dormany "eye" to start new growth.)

I'd think about temperature, a healthy plant will tolerate those temps but less healthy one likely prefers more warmth. Humidity sounds like you have plenty... maybe even too much. If the roots look good, the watering should be OK. But photos of your setup (as well as the plants) would help.

[Dimples]

I’d be thinking it’s temperature related too. My house is mostly 64-74F in Jan-March and I use heat mats but some of my phals still sulk and take on the appearance you mentioned. Kinda dehydrated, not terribly, but the roots are fine. They come out of it fine.

[nemesis]

Thank you for your input. I stowed the heat mat for the season. But it sounds like I will need to retrieve it.

[tmoney]

you water every day, even with 80% humidity? that's seems like overwatering to me, even in Texas! perhaps the leaves got wrinkly cause the roots didn't have a chance to breathe?? totally speculating, nobody else seems to balk at every day watering!! i dunno, but best of luck with the new ones!

[estación seca]

She's using large orchid bark. Phal. roots can stay moist as long as they have plenty of air and conditions are correct. I'm betting the problem is due to low temperatures.

[isurus79]

Ya, I'm also thinking a combo of cool temps (plants aren't growing much) with too much water could be the problem, even with large grade orchiata.

[Clawhammer]

They might have never gotten back on their feet after being converted from sphagnum (assumption from your comment about getting them at Lowe's). Sphag to large bark is quite a difference and should only be done when new roots are popping. I think the low temps probably inhibited their recovery.

[Ray]

Way back when, when I exposed 300 plants each of Phalaenopsis Lemforde White Beauty and Oncidium Sharry Baby established in s/h to daily watering for 6 months to prove that “water does not cause root rot”, it was in a warm greenhouse. Never lost a plant.

First winter here in NC, growing indoors, I lost a couple of s/h phals to the cold….

[Dimples]

Tmoney, I’ve also found that when transitioning a phal from moss to bark, (assuming other conditions are suitable) daily watering helps keep the existing roots in good shape for as long as possible. The roots are accustomed to a much more water retentive medium, so frequent watering helps replicate that condition, and medium-large bark has plenty of air space, so no worries about rot.

Not sure if you’re familiar with US geography but states in the US southwest have very high light levels in winter compared to locations further north, and we stay much warmer overall. It was over 90F/32C at my house for the last two days. That’s unusual but not unheard of for April.