Leafless Phal

[Billyc]

Hi All,
I'm enclosing a photo of Phal Melody, which I purchased at a spring show.
It was outside May to Sept where it spiked.
Brought it into the house in late Sept, but all the leaves yellowed and dropped off. However the spike continues to elongate.
Photo shows freshly-watered roots which appear to be healthy.
Will it live to flower in this condition?

[flhiker]

Don't toss it out as yet. Your plant seems to have crown rot which is almost always fatal. The spike may continue to grow in a desperate attempt to flower and reproduce. Cut back on the water to once a week and it may produce a kieki (baby plant). I have a Phal that put out 4 kieki's after the mother plant had crown rot, now I have 4 new plant's. So keep a eye on it and Good Luck

[RosieC]

I agree with Dave. Hopefully it can stay alive long enough to produce a Keiki.

Phals can do some photosynthesis through the roots, in fact the 'Ghost' orchid is similar-ish and naturally has no leaves.

So try and give it standard Phal care and hopefully it will produce either a Basil keiki or you will get keiki's from the spike.

[Billyc]

Originally Posted by flhiker

Don't toss it out as yet. Your plant seems to have crown rot which is almost always fatal. The spike may continue to grow in a desperate attempt to flower and reproduce. Cut back on the water to once a week and it may produce a kieki (baby plant). I have a Phal that put out 4 kieki's after the mother plant had crown rot, now I have 4 new plant's. So keep a eye on it and Good Luck

Thanks for suggestion, I'll wait and see