rotate phal's pot occasionally to get light on all sides?

[cutie_monster]

i have a phal orchid who is growing toward the light so much in one direction that its almost "leaning" out of the pot.


Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr


Untitled by big_cutie_monster, on Flickr

should this plant be turned every so often to straighten it up in the pot? what i mean is, i grow other plants too (not orchids), and every couple months or so i have to turn them so all the leaves don't grow in one direction toward the light. i have one other phal that is doing this also, but not as bad as the one in the photos above. thank you in advance for any suggestions.
brandy

[Carpe Diem]

In Nature, Phals don't grow upright. They are attached to trees with the crowns down. Your Phal is growing, the way nature intended. Some lean more than others. In my experience, turning the pot will not make it change direction. You could try to repot it, placing it upright in the pot, fill in with medium and put a stake for support to keep it straight. Be careful to keep water out of the crown. I just let mine grow the way they want to.

[cutie_monster]

ok, that makes sense. i did read that on Wikipedia about how they grow on the trees like that. do you think it would bother this plant to turn it away from the window any how? the reason i ask is, the leaves are really long & because its leaning like that, it is a better fit for the plant to face out away from the window. that way, the leaves don't rub up against the curtain. does it even matter which way the leaves face against the light then?

[Carpe Diem]

No, I don't think it makes a difference. My shelves are getting crowded, so every time I get a new orchid, I have to turn all the others this way and that way to fit the newcomer in. So far there are no adverse effects.

[The Orchid Boy]

I grow under lights and all my phals that have been under there for a while have "picture perfect" leaf form. I don't have to turn my plants since they are under lights. I also usually get perfectly straight spikes until they arch. I'd turn your orchids. Like a quarter (90 degree) turn once a day (or half or 180 turn once a week if you don't want to turn it that often) If you want sraight leaves. The leaning leaves don't hurt you're plants though.

[cutie_monster]

alright, awesome! thank you carpe diem. i'm gonna leave it in that position then.

---------- Post added at 12:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:40 AM ----------

thank you also orchid boy. i may try turning the other one too to see if that helps to straighten it up. the other phals i have are not leaning at all, even though they are in the same windows...weird. i guess these 2 guys just need a good work-out. that's what i call it when the other plants in my home are turned away from the light so that they have to exercise to get back to it, lol.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Turning the Phal gives you what I call "helicopter leaves". If that's the look you're going for, then fine, if you're looking for a neater appearance, I'd leave them as is.

Phals, like any other plant, will grow towards the light source. If your light source is coming from that window, the new leaves will grow towards the direction of that window. If you turn the plant around, the new leaves will orient themselves to the light source - your window; the old leaves will stay put. If you turn it more, the new leaves will eventually point towards the window; the old leaves will remain in position. It will not make the plant straighten up. Eventually, if you keep rotating the Phal in an attempt to get a "neater looking Phal" they will acquire the look similar to that of a set of helicopter blades - hence, why I call it the "helicopter leaves" look.

The leaning is a result of a Phal's growing orientation. If you don't count Phal pulcherrhima as a true Phal, but rather still consider it to be in the genus Doritis, (Doritis pulcherrhima), then all Phals that are currently known to science do not grow upright.

Doritis pulcherrhima does grow upright.

[cutie_monster]

ooohhhh...ok. gotcha. i understand totally now. thank you king of orchid growing for clearing that up for me.

[RosieC]

I've had really twisted leaves on some as a result of turning them, just like Philip says "helicopter leaves". I don't turn then purposefully now, although I have to admit I don't take much care about always putting them the same way around. I think they usually get put down the same because the lean means the fit on the windowledge better one way than the other but other than that

[Talila6]

Good post. I was wondering about my own blooming Dpts. It is leaning out of its pot! But looks healthy. I might try to straighten it when I repot, but now, I won't be too concerned about the 'lean'