How do I save my dried out Phal

[RosieC]

Well here is the status...

I have lost 5 of the original 9 leaves. One has dropped off, the others can been seen in this picture. Three are easily seen, the fourth is on the left and lies flat with the one above it.

The one above it is still green and the same colour as the healthy three but it is somewhat wrinkled and I'm not sure if it will survive.

The healthy one above that has always sat at a strange angle with it's underside pointing towards the window and it's top into the room and along with the other two on the right is very healthy

The top leaf has grown quickly since I got back and I also think I see signs of new root growth in some of the arial roots and in one just under the surface. I'm now fairly happy that the plant as a whole will survive.

Thanks to everyone who gave advice. I'm glad I'm not going to loose the plant as it was my favorite.



On an better note by other two phals are looking really healthy. The photo below shows one of them, there is loads of new root growth and a new spike which should be visible in this picture.

[caseydoll]

Great job with your phals! Even though the first one is losing some leaves, it still looks great. I have had phals look a lot worse and they bounced back quick.

I grow under lights now but I used to have my phals sitting on a stand by a window. Either one of my 3 cats, or my dog knocked one of them over and all the bark fell out of the pot. It landed under the stand, sort of out of sight. I didn't even notice it for a few days (at least!). When I found it it was laying in the middle of the living room with a bunch of its leaves all chewed up. All of it's roots were bone dry and crunchy. I figure my dog dragged it out and used it as a chew toy. I repotted it asap and today it is thriving. New leaves and tons of roots. It still has some chewed up leaves on it but it's really healthy!

Sorry for the long story! I just thought it would make you feel even better about yours. Yours looks like a beauty queen next to what mine looked like when I eventually found it.

[RosieC]

I have another worry about this dried out Phal.

It's not so dried out now but I've realised that the leaves are a lot darker green and have quite a strong red tinge compared to my other two Phals.

They are on the same window ledge and so get the same light levels. (It gets direct sun in the morning but the sun moves round to the side of the house where this room has no windows quite quickly and by the afternoon/evening is coming through the windows at the far side of the room).

After it was repotted over two months ago I kept it a bit darker for a while. (In another room with one window on the same wall as the one they are in now, but I didn't keep it in the window.) I can't remember if it got darker then or not. It was there for about 3-4 weeks and has been back with the others over a month.

Is this something to worry about?
Could it be related to the fact it dried out?
Should it get lighter again given time?
Is there something I should do?

I have a window ledge that gets more sun in the afternoon and evening but I thought Phals should only have indirect or morning light so I don't like to put it there. (And the other two seem happy with the light levels in this window and this was has been happy for a couple of years there.)