Phal losing leaves - Orchid Board

mnguyen110 · #1 05-20-2013, 05:47 PM

This Phal had 4 leaves and started losing one leave about every 2 weeks. It has lost 2 leaves already and looks like the third is about to go out. I don't see any pest and my other Phals with the same culture are doing fine.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong with this one?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 05-20-2013, 06:33 PM

1. Move to smaller pot.

2. Even though it is losing leaves it is still alive if there are enough roots and they are healthy.

3. Please read the sticky: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ends-here.html from the very beginning.

4. O2 to H2O ratio is out of whack. Smaller pot, watering less, good air circulation, and an airy potting media will remedy that.

mnguyen110 · #3 05-20-2013, 06:49 PM

The roots were mostly green and white when I repotted this one from sphag sometime in March. It didnt' fit back in the 3" with the bark so I moved it to a 4". Guess I'll have to move it back to a 3".

shaelyn · #4 05-20-2013, 07:46 PM

if you can't fit it in the 3", throw in some styrofoam or packing peanuts to help. make sure they're not the kind of packing peanuts that dissolve in water or otherwise have additives.

...and I've read somewhere that phals don't do as well when moved directly from moss to bark for some reason...a mix of bark and moss might help.

I don't know which is causing the issue, but here's hoping one or the other fixes it.

mnguyen110 · #5 05-21-2013, 01:36 AM

here are the roots that was watered 5 days ago. Think it's too dry? The roots looks like it could support more than one leaf right?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 05-21-2013, 04:53 AM

The Hydroton or LECA spheres hold a lot more water than they appear to...

I'd remove those.

mnguyen110 · #7 05-22-2013, 01:01 PM

I thought LECA when added would open up the mix?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #8 05-22-2013, 01:11 PM

In a way it does open up the media to allow more air in, but it also has tiny pores in the sphere to hold lots of water.

The sphere is not really solid all the way through.

clusty · #9 05-22-2013, 02:47 PM

I am actually slowly transitioning to LECA.
I put a few muffs of moss on top just so I can poke and feel the humidity.

mnguyen110 · #10 05-22-2013, 08:18 PM

to clarify, does bark or LECA hold more water?