Scalded Phal & Surprising Results

[jrodpad]

It was an ordinary Saturday - me watering the orchids. Dutifully shuttling plants in from the corners of the house to the kitchen sink for their weekly soak-n-feed.

Little did I know, that while I was grabbing a psychopsis and a phal from the living room window, my lovely wife had turned the faucet from cold to scalding hot (we have an overactive water heater that produces near boiling water if the faucet is left on for too long). I gave the phal a once over, admiring how long its purple blooms had endured and then turned on the water full blast and soaked the pot.

Yep. You could almost hear the plant scream and I watched in shock as steam rose up from the bark mixture. I was expecting cool water and instead soaked the entire root system in a scalding hot blast. Not knowing what else to do, I turned the water back to cold and let the icy water pour through the pot for a few minutes. I was sure that the orchid would promptly whither and die. I've since turned down the water heater to a safer output level.

This was about six weeks ago and the results defy belief. The phal has kept its flowers. It has also put out a new leaf that is now about an inch long. It has also just initiated what appear to be two new flower spikes!!! How on earth can this be possible? Do phals thrive on abuse? Aside from the scalding water treatment, I haven't done anything different with this orchid... same light, humidity, temperature, water and food.

I will try and post a pic or two in the next few days, but in the interim I would love to hear any theories on what's going on.

Thanks!

[RosieC]

Wow, I would have expected the same as you.

It's one of my fears that I will forget to check if the tap is on hot or cold after hubby has been washing up or something. I can't believe yours not only survived but seems to have thrived on this treatment!

[trdyl]

Wow! How are the roots?

[jrodpad]

RosieC - I know, I feel the same way. I can't believe that the phal didn't die on the spot let alone go into one of the most active growing spurts I've ever seen from this orchid.

Trdyl - I honestly don't know, I've been too afraid to pull the phal out of the pot - I don't want to interrupt the growth spurt. I can't imagine that the roots didn't get a bit charred.

Scalding the roots aside, has anyone ever seen a phal put out a new leaf and flower spikes at the same time? I always thought it was an either / or situation.

Thanks.

- J

[trdyl]

I have seen them start a new leaf and stall growth while blooming, but not both at once.

[Tropicgirl]

I have one that was a clearance plant from Lowes that has started to rebloom on an existing spike and is putting out a new leaf. Haven't done anything special to encourage it, just happened.

[grasshopper]

I have a NOID phal that started a new leaf and within a week started 2 flower spikes. It's been 2 months and the spikes and leaf are actively growing, along with a slew of new roots.

[jrodpad]

trdyl,

When you say "start a new leaf and stall growth while blooming" do you mean that the phal starts to put out a new leaf, the new leaf stops growing while the flowers bloom and then continues to grow to maturity after the flowers die off?

Pics to come...

- J

[Orchid126]

Congrats on the quick save! Orchids can fool you. Very often they have beautiful top growth, but no roots below. Go figure. If you could just turn the plant on it's side and slip the root ball out of the pot to check them, it would be to your benefit.

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by jrodpad

trdyl,

When you say "start a new leaf and stall growth while blooming" do you mean that the phal starts to put out a new leaf, the new leaf stops growing while the flowers bloom and then continues to grow to maturity after the flowers die off?

Pics to come...

- J

Yes, J.