How do you 'upright' old Phals? - Orchid Board

TheCanfield · #1 01-07-2009, 03:06 PM

I have two very old phals that were given to me and the crown and leaves are all lying to one side. They are healthy, tops are facing up and bottoms down, they have just grown this way because the crown has grown kind of over more than up.
My question is I now have a new leaf starting and am wondering how to correct this situation. I was thinking of tying a piece of thick yarn around the leave and off to the side to gently train the leaf over the other direction, does this sound right??
I know there is going to be no quick fix that it’s going to take years to have the entire plant upright again but I want to know where to begin.
Any input will be greatly appreciated.
ThanX as ALWAYS.
-TheCanfield

Ill try to get some pics up later, incase your confused.

RosieC · #2 01-07-2009, 04:22 PM

Phals always do have a tendency to grow sideways, they seem to prefer growing that way so you may be fighting a loosing battle.

I've once tried to re-pot one of mine in a way that pointed the newest leaves more upright but I don't know that it helped much, as more new growth came out it just started to lean again.

BikerDoc5968 · #3 01-07-2009, 04:31 PM

growing sideways is natural....it helps keep the crown free of standing water in their natural habitat. While it is hard to keep these side growing plants upright in pots because the weight sooner or later makes them tip over. The only way I've been able to somewhat fix the situation is to repot, turning the plant 90 degs in the pot. The problem then is that you need a bigger pot and the plant is very difficult to center .... soaking the root mass for 10 to 15 mins will soften things and make them somewhat more manageable.

Ethan · #4 01-07-2009, 04:51 PM

I have had some success with positioning them so that the leaning side is leaning away from the light source. This way the new growth grows back towards the light - if that makes sense.

However, I agree with doc, this is natural for phals. I've lost a few to crown rot and they are all ones that were positioned straight up and down. I finally resorted to letting them do what they want. They may take up more space when they are leaning, but a leaning phal is better than a dead one.

cb977 · #5 01-07-2009, 05:27 PM

I have a few that are doing the same thing...as soon as they stop blooming and putting out spikes, I'll be putting them on mounts...why fight it?

TheCanfield · #6 01-08-2009, 08:26 AM

Thank you everybody for your quic responses,
Im just going to let it be and enjoy the fact that they are happy

Jkelee · #7 01-08-2009, 08:55 AM

My suggestion is to mount your phals, as they LOVE to grap that wood!! It will not take long either!!
Just use some moss and fishing line, protect those roots with moss. And tie them on 'sideways or upside down'.
The spring-summer of 08', I mounted 99% of my phals.
Right now, about 6-8 months later, 99% of them are in spike!!!!

Just some examples of mine, hanging sideways, or down.

This one, was only about 1 month or so after mounting her!

mojomick · #8 01-08-2009, 10:35 AM

Jkelee, Those Phals look wonderful. You have given me inspiration. I have one phal mounted but it looks like I may have a few more mounted this spring. How often do you water the mounted ones. Are you in a greenhouse, outside, house? What are you feeding? I'm just so impressed.

Jkelee · #9 01-08-2009, 12:36 PM

Hi mojo, Thanks for the kudos!!

I have them outside in my 'Chid Hotel', on my fence. You can see pics of that in my signature link with photobucket.

I water them every day in the warm months here in FL, and about 2 times a week in the cooler months. Unless, Mother Nature gets them wet, then I don't touch them.
I fert weekly/weakly in the spring to fall. Monthly/weakly in the winter. I have to get home tonight and see the name of what I use to fert them.
More to come later, in a few hrs....

mojomick · #10 01-08-2009, 12:49 PM

I just looked at your photobucket and admire your fence structure. Unfortunately, I live in the desert of Wa. State where it is cold and dry in winter and hot and dry in summer. I grow in a GH so I am thinking of putting up a lattice structure on one end so I can do some handing as well. I don't have room for vandas, boo hoo, but phals and some miniatures are on my wish list for mounting. Right now I have lots of catts in sheath and bud and all my phals are in spike. Oh what I would give for warm weather year round!! Thanks again for sharing your yard pics. They are inspirational. Betty