wrinkled phal leaves

[mkg152]

so I decided to take on a challenge and instead of starting with a nice safe healthy orchid, I went bargain shopping and got one of clearance at loews that needs a little encouragement.

It's a phal, at least that's what the tag said. It was left outside for what I can assume was at least a week and probably felt like a month for that little phal. I live in the northeast and its been 100 degrees or hotter all week. It had a green spike that had probably recently finished blooming. It was on a lower shelf outside, but at least partially shaded. The leaves are very wrinkly, which i know means it's dehydrated.

I repotted it the phal potting mix from loews in a clay pot with slits for circulation and gave it a nice shower and hit it with a little jack's orchid special. I also cut the spike down to the first node after the flower.

The roots were generally ok for being a big box purchase in sphagnum moss. I had to do a little trimming, but it was still fairly health in the root area.

it's now living inside, with indirect light.

I want to know if I should water it a little more than usual, or let it stay on the drier side? Also, will the leaves replump or do they always stay wrinkly?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[jensan]

Did you soak the bark mix and clay pot before the repot? If you didn't you'll need to water more often

[RosieC]

I don't think the leaves will replump although they may become more rigid if they are not too far gone (rigid while still wrinkled).

I would say it's best to water as normal, watering more may risk the roots. Keep an eye on how fast it dies, use a wooden skerwer to see if it is still damp down at the botton and water when it is dry.

[Stephplant76]

Put some neem oil on a cottonball & apply it to the wrinkled leaf!!! I would rub it good on the leaf where it is wrinkled!! Hope that will help you!!!

[PeaceLoveOrchids]

Phals in general don't need to be soaking wet all the time. Watering about once every two weeks should be fine, it's what I do. In your post you didn't say how much you normally watered so I thought I might throw that in there.I agree with Rosiec, the leaves will not replump, I have a phal whose leaves are wrinkled on the tip and it wasn't doing so good in the first place. It made an amazing recovery and the leaves didn't replump.And regarding the lowes potting mix which I have also purchased before, I would actually let it dry a little more, It aways seems to be very thick for orchid potting mix to me. Just my

[Paul Mc]

Ditto on the leaf not replumping. Is the orchid mix you bought Miracle Gro's per chance? What does it look like? Could you post a picture?

If it is anything like Miracle Grow's, then the only orchids it is good for would be terrerstrial orchids, not phal's. The medium gets too heavy when it's wet and does not allow air circulation through the roots. The important thing to remember here is that phal's grow on trees in nature so their roots need air circulation to be healthy. So, if it looks like or resembles dirt (finely ground or otherwise, don't use it for phal's).

As for how much you water, it really all depends upon how dry your environment is. If you have a really dry environment or are using very fresh medium then you may need to water more. Here in Missouri where it tends to stay relatively humid, I end up having to water mine every week. But I don't soak, I just put it under a facet and let it go through the medium for a little bit and then put the phal's back. Again, it depends upon your medium (as some hold more moisture than others) and your environment.

You might also want to try adding a little bit of DynoGro ProTekt to your watering for a while as it helps strengthen off plants from environmental stresses such as over/under watering.