Limp Phal Leaves

[mlewis56]

This is my first orchid. I thought I was doing everything correctly...after the blooms fell off I trimmed it back, trimmed off rotted roots (there were a LOT), and repotted it in a mix of bark and sphagnum. I only water it when the medium is just about bone dry, but the only two leaves seem to be limp and one of them is starting to become wrinkled. There is new growth on the stems, so I'm not sure what the deal is. Any advice?

[Zoi2]

Hello and welcome to the OB.
When you say "there is the new growth on the stems" are you referring to a new root growing? Is is possible to post a picture or two? That will help get answers to your questions.
Joann

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board.

If you had a lot of root rot this will mean that the roots left may be struggling to get enough moisture to the leaves.

Bascially limp leaves and wrinkling getting worse indicates not enough moisture making it to them... this may either be that you are not watering enough or more commonly it means the roots have rotted from over watering and it can't draw up enough.

When you repotted did you put it back in the same pot or a smaller one. It really should go into a pot which is just big enough to fit the current roots, if it is too big them it may be staying damp in the middle even when it seems bone dry on the top and that could be leading to more root rot.

Only recently I had one in a small pot which I thought was right for it, but it turns out it was still too big and holding to much moisture and while I had root growth near the top the roots had rotted again near the bottom. As small a pot as possible is always best.