Phal help, please! I'm so confused!

[Yanquister]

This has been posted in a couple of forums, but members directed me to repost in OTHER columns so I was a little confused (please don't consider this spam, I apologize for the inconvenience if I misunderstood. Below if my original message with photo.

Need help with a Phal please! I tried to read all through the sticky and (unless I missed it, for which I deeply apologize), what in the world is happening to this leaf? This has been one of my happier plants and they have all given me year round blooms AND a priceless hobby (flowering spikes or not). The last couple of days I noticed this one had a withering leaf, and my water schedule (around every 8-10 days in this humid climate in south MS/LA area), but the leaf looks horrible! Has something gone wrong or is this natural? My others have never done this (yet), and as of now they have all been perfectly healthy and flowering on their own time (one phal after blooming four months miraculously showed up with two new spikes, and this one was considered one of my healthier ones! Please? Any advice to give this worried phal lover please?? (I've tried to attach a photo but I'm using my iPhone, please let me know if it doesn't work!)

Thanks so much guys, you and all your info/input is just a wealth of information that I read religiously!!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I wouldn't worry about that much.

I need to know more info before I can even tell you what I think it might be.

So...

Do you know your day/night temperatures in your growing area?

What are your seasonal temperatures in your growing area?

What is the humidity like in your growing area?

How often do you water?

Do you mist the leaves?

Did you check for mites?

Did you check for other pests?

Was it subject to a draft?

Is this plant strictly grown indoors or is it an indoors/outdoors plant?

Were there other plants that have this problem near it?

[Yanquister]

Thanks so much for your reply, King. The answers to your questions are below. Thank you so much in advance!

you know your day/night temperatures in your growing area?
Day: 73-78, Night: 65-70.

What are your seasonal temperatures in your growing area?
The spring temps average around 75-80 in the day, 50-60 at night. Summer: 95-100 during day, 80 at night (although my orchids are kept inside.

What is the humidity like in your growing area?
The humidity outside at the original time of posting was 71 percent. As they are kept inside the humidity is a little lower (its an older house so not a big difference), but the orchids are kept on moisture trays as well.

How often do you water?
Depends on how long it takes the media to dry out (barks volcanic rock and small amounts of sphagnum). I check them regularly but they seem to do best when I water once ever 7 days more or less.

Do you mist the leaves?
I do mist some. Not excessively, and I make sure to avoid water collecting in the crown.

Did you check for mites?
Yes, couldn't find evidence of mites.

Did you check for other pests?
Yes again. I have inspected (even reported just to make sure I could inspect the entire plant...but no evidence of pest or rot.

Was it subject to a draft?

I keep the orchids on a table facing a very large shaded window, but I keep them at a distance that drafts SHOULDN'T be an issue...it's a three-four feet away and I've never felt a draft period, even during very windy nights. I'm no expert by far but, I'm assuming we have a pretty tight seal so I'm unable to detect drafts. :-/

Is this plant strictly grown indoors or is it an indoors/outdoors plant?
I would classify them as strictly indoors considering the temperatures are just now starting to stay at a level that I read would be ideal for Phalaenopsis. I did take them all out one day when they missed their sun because of a storm, but the temp outside matched the inside and I only temporarily left them in light that is shaded equally to what they get through the window everyday. Is that bad to do? It was only the once, and it was actually AFTER I noticed the leaf issue so I don't believe that could have been a factor.

Were there other plants that have this problem near it?

My orchids are kept fairly close to each other as I read on various articles that this helps maintain a more constant humidity level...at least as constant as possible considering its inside...but all my other plants are fine. NONE have this issue, which is why I'm baffled/concerned and just all out scared! Lol

Thanks in advance again. Can't wait to hear your feedback!!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If this problem occurred after you have had this plant in your possession for a while, then I think it may have been caused by random fungal spores that landed on the surface of the leaves that germinated when you misted the leaves.

It doesn't seem like it's causing any further problems, so I would just leave the leaf as is.

I would just cut out the misting. It doesn't really add much by way of humidity. Besides, your current humidity level is adequate enough.

I do think that the plant may also not be getting enough light. Perhaps they should be grown a bit closer to the window if it is at all possible.

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[Yanquister]

I appreciate your input so very much. It's going to take a LOT of rearranging to get them closer to the window but, as a hopeless lover of all things orchid, ill throw stuff out if I have to to get it closer to light! Lol

What is the optimal distance from the window for phals? I have mine sitting on a table in front of two huge French shaded windows that give off the sunrise/early morning rays. It's currently 3-4 feet away...but I'm not sure if these plans "sunburn" easily.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Try 2 feet away first.

[Yanquister]

Thanks so much King, I really appreciate your help. May I pick your brain just one more time?

A couple of people have sent me messages saying my potting mix is just the worst thing EVER and that I should repot right away, which was a shock to me because other than my issue with this one leaf, my orchids have thrived, flowered and grown significantly over the past several months. To the point where two actually look ten times better than when I bought them from the orchid nursery. The media I use is made up of peat moss chunks, orchid bark, hardwood charcoal and lava rock.

I'm not an orchid expert (obviously, considering I'm asking you so many questions), but from what I can see, this media is giving the orchids the perfect combination of moisture and aeration for the roots.....what is your opinion on my media?

Thanks so much! Again, your advice is great and I appreciate you taking your time to help me!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Yanquister

Thanks so much King, I really appreciate your help. May I pick your brain just one more time?

A couple of people have sent me messages saying my potting mix is just the worst thing EVER and that I should repot right away, which was a shock to me because other than my issue with this one leaf, my orchids have thrived, flowered and grown significantly over the past several months. To the point where two actually look ten times better than when I bought them from the orchid nursery. The media I use is made up of peat moss chunks, orchid bark, hardwood charcoal and lava rock.

I'm not an orchid expert (obviously, considering I'm asking you so many questions), but from what I can see, this media is giving the orchids the perfect combination of moisture and aeration for the roots.....what is your opinion on my media?

Thanks so much! Again, your advice is great and I appreciate you taking your time to help me!

I personally don't have experience with peat moss chunks, so it's kinda hard for me to say yay or nay, and give a solid reason for saying yes or no.

I do know that using a potting media with fine particles in the mix is not the way to go for Phals. Phals grow on trees where the roots are pretty exposed to warm, humid air. Given this, you know that they need O2 around the roots in the proper amount in order to function correctly. Fine particles in the potting media tend to prevent proper air circulation over time.

From what I've been seeing on the web, the images show peat moss chunks to be concentrated little chunks of peat moss that superficially resemble bark on a visual level. However, the question I'm having is whether or not the peat moss chunks will eventually degrade quickly into fine particles that will choke off the roots. Quite honestly, without any prior experience with this potting media ingredient, I have a difficult time advising you properly on it.

All I can say is, if you're succeeding for now, great. Keep it up. However, keep a vigilant eye on it in case there could be something that could go wrong, then make your adjustments to culture accordingly.

I can safely say that most people will not argue against using "lava rocks", charcoal, or bark. It's the peat moss chunks people are giving their thoughts about.