Will phal leaves "replump?"

[Phal in love]

Hello,

I have some phals that I purchased on clearance. The leaves are no longer plump or turgid. There are some decent roots and I have repotted out of the packed moss they were in and into bark.

My question is will these leaves recover? Should I cut the limp ones off and let the plants work towards creating new ones?

One of these still has some blooms on it, along with the limp leaves. Should I cut back the bloom stem to let the plant energy go into recovery?

Thanks,
Ann in GA

[keithrs]

No.... the leaves will not rehydrate.

Dont cut anything!!!!

It will grow new leaves and the old one will fall off.

The plant will drop the flowers and spikes will turn brown if it needs to focus on growing.

Just treat it as a normal healthy Phal. As long as your roots are good, you'll be fine.

[quiltergal]

I have to differ on cutting the spike. If the plant has very few roots left that spike will suck all the moisture and energy right out of the plant and kill it. If you cut the spike off the plant doesn't have to work quite as hard to recover. Depending on how advanced the leaf dessication is it may or may not regain some of it's turgidity. Leave them on regardless. The plant will shed them when it's done with them.

[tucker85]

I agree that you should not cut the leaves off. Even though the leaves are dehydrated they still can create energy for the plant through Photosynthesis. I don't have an opinion on the spike. Just treat the plant normally and eventually it will grow new leaves. Good luck.

[keithrs]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

I have to differ on cutting the spike. If the plant has very few roots left that spike will suck all the moisture and energy right out of the plant and kill it. If you cut the spike off the plant doesn't have to work quite as hard to recover. Depending on how advanced the leaf dessication is it may or may not regain some of it's turgidity. Leave them on regardless. The plant will shed them when it's done with them.

I would agree with you but she said the roots where ok...

[Phal in love]

The phal that still has blooms on it has several good roots. I think the leaves have gone limp because I had it by my front door on display and it didn't get enough light.

Now I have moved it to in front of a western window and the sun is starting to get more direct at that location. I will just keep an eye on it a while longer and keep it extra watered a bit to see what happens. The blooms are dropping on their own, and I can tell they are "drooping/dropping" not just fading and droping.

My instincts were to leave the leaves for photosynthesis, but I wasn't sure if they were really functioning if they are limp and dehydrated.

Thanks for all your input! I will continue to monitor and learn!

[keithrs]

Just be careful on the watering!!!! If the mix stays too wet you will end up rotting the roots.

I would suggest some Physan 20, once or twice a month to fight rot.

I would also suggest holding off on fertilizer intel they show they want to grow.

The limpness was most likely caused by reduced watering. But, as long as you have bright but not direct light you should be fine. Bright morning light is best if you have to pick. Try to keep temps above 60 or so to reduce stress on them. You may have to mist daily with bark... depend on your conditions.

[Pilot]

I've had leaves plump back up after being dehydrated for a bit-- though they will always bear some of the "scars" of the dehydration, they did become full and turgid, mostly.

It is unlikely your plant got shriveled from lack of light, but rather, too much-- or just not enough water. Light will change the color of the leaf, most notably.

There has always been a lot of discussion about whether or not one should remove a spike from a plant. I tend to leave mine on, if in good health. I've had many phals rebloom this way along with a new spike. However, the removal of the spike can also start a natural reaction where the plant focuses attention on growing new roots and leaves. And finally there is a case to be made that cutting anything, you invite possible viral or bacterial infection. It's a judgment call in the end, really. But if the general health of the plant is not good (ailing leaves and few roots), I'd advise removing the spike. Spikes will stay in water for several weeks so it wouldn't be a total loss, either.

This is not my experience but I do know of a gardener/scientist that is working in Ecuador who has cut the end of a phal leaf, under water, and the plant's response was to have the leaf plump up a bit. He says the plant did survive and he's done this several times. Never tried it myself but you would have to be diligent in keeping the plant and water free of bacterial growth.

Regarding physan, be careful. It isn't a curative, but a preventative and I'd be willing to bet people over-use it simply because they think they're sanitizing the plant, when they could be doing more harm than good. A little goes a long way and flush flush flush!

Just my opinion on the matter... now if I could just SLEEP.

[PeaceLoveOrchids]

Now I have moved it to in front of a western window and the sun is starting to get more direct at that location.[QUOTE]

Do you mean direct sunlight or a little more light than before? Phals cannot have direct sun. They prefer, as I read from a phal website, " just enough light to read clearly in." However I'm not sure the location they were at before. I'll need some input.

[Phal in love]

Y'all are so helpful and informative on this board!

I have a kitchen nook with walls of windows on the south, north, and west. That is where most of my orchids are and I move them around to suit their lighting needs. The room as a whole is pretty bright, so I have had them in the western window through the winter. The sun is getting more direct through that window now, and I will be moving them to the southern side soon.

The droopy leaf/droopy bloom phal I was asking about was in a basket by my front door for a while. That is the eastern side of my house, but I have a front porch that shades it and I just don't think it got enough light for it.

I usually follow the plant's lead on whether to cut the bloom stem and leave it as long as it is green. Many have reflowered from that. But I think this one I will cut so the plant can focus on repairing itself.

I broke a bloom stem on another orchid once [I think it is a miltassia?] before it have even bloomed. I put it in water and it eventually bloomed--but it took weeks! Maybe I will stick these cut stems in water and see what happens.

Thanks!