Wrinkled Leaves?

[chucknora]

I'm trying desperately to keep my orchids alive. I'm afraid they aren't getting enough light, but just in case I'm wrong I'm asking here...

They seem to dry out every other day, which is fine, because they are right above the sink on a windowsill that gets no direct sunlight. I just water them in the sink and put them back. But the leaves are wrinkled and starting to get a little soft. They are also not as dark a green, making me think sun light issue.

I can get a florescent light to put there, but I don't know if that would be too much.

Any questions? Help?

[AGibson001]

Hello chucknora, It will be difficult to provide accurate advice without knowing the species of the orchids, what medium they are in, condition of the roots, etc. If possible, attach a picture. A photo will all but ensure members of the OrchidBoard community will be able to diagnose and provide solutions to your plants problems.

[chucknora]

I can get a picture later. One is a NoID Phal. The other is a Paph from Orchidbabies.com that doesn't have a spike yet, it's still small. The Paph is better off than the Phal. They are both in a moss/bark orchid mix.

[Bill U.]

The details that you have given help a little bit, but it would be better if you could give us a little more to work from and give you help- such is the way with orchid problems...

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It is highly preferable to see a photo of your plants in question. There are quite possibly far more problems that will present itself in a photo versus you just verbally describing them on the board. Oftentimes, people who don't have enough experience in orchid growing overlook certain details and don't know to mention them in text, that more experienced orchids growers catch through visual inspection of what you've got in a pic.

NOID Phals tend to be mistreated quite often even before it reaches anybody's homes, so it's no surprise that it is the first one to show signs of suffering.

I've gotten a Phrag from Orchidbabies before, so I know that they are a reputable company, but it still doesn't hurt to examine what's going on with your Paph too, if you really have questions about it as well.

[chucknora]

Sorry pics took so long, my human baby and fur babies are keeping me busy. Here are some pictures.

I don't have pictures of the Paph roots, as I cannot see them. Let me know if you need them, and I can try getting it out of the pot tomorrow.

Thanks for the help!

[AnonYMouse]

Your phal looks very dehydrated. Don't know anything about paphs, sorry.

[Wynn Dee13]

I agree that your Phal is dehydrated. With it being planted in a wooden basket it will dry out very fast especially in the house with heaters or in your case air conditioners. How much are you watering it when you water? Are you wetting the medium completely or just giving it a splash? You should water it completely. I would repot it in a pot. I prefer plastic clear slotted pots for my Phals and use sphagnum moss. Or water more. Repotting it and checking all the roots wouldn't be a bad idea either. The roots should be plump and during active growing the tips should be green. The roots should also be grey/silver when dry and green when wet.
Your Paph looks fine to me but I don't grow them either. Good luck!

[JerseyGirlBecky]

I would take them out of the pots and check the roots. If they are not in clear pots you cannot see what kind of roots they have. If they don't have good roots below, all the watering is not doing them much good.

[james mickelso]

Hi Wynn Dee!! That phal is very dehydrated. When you water it make sure, as Wynn Dee says, to soak it. Plants in baskets dry out rapidly. Just curious though. Do you have a water softning system in your house? Those roots look salt damaged.