Bloom wilting but new leaf growing

[tsun1108]

Hi all,

I had this mini phal for last 2 months, there were 2 spikes with full of buds and all of them opened for me.

I didn't shift place, didn't change my watering habit, but interestingly over the last 2 weeks (it's getting cooler in Southern hemisphere), I have noted that on one of the spike the flowers all wilt rapidly and the spike appeared brown all the way down.

But at the same time, it is growing new leaf from centre. Roots look fine from clear pot.

Is that normal growth cycle? Not enough nutrient? Or should I repot?

[KellyKhaos]

Im no expert, but it sounds like you have a healthy phal that has started a new growth cycle.

[OrchidLoverSA]

My phals. normally keep their flowers for longer than 2 months, but that could just be a hybrid thing. The first phal. I ever got dropped all it's flowers when it got home because I put it in a too shady spot, perhaps it's a light issue? But I tend to agree that it's probably just starting another growth cycle.

[tsun1108]

Actually my mistake, it had been flowering for 3 months.... LOL

I havn't really cut the spike though, thought it will drop off when it's ready.

Will anyone suggest repot? The tag that came with it said it was last done in Nov 2011.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by tsun1108

Actually my mistake, it had been flowering for 3 months.... LOL

I havn't really cut the spike though, thought it will drop off when it's ready.

Will anyone suggest repot? The tag that came with it said it was last done in Nov 2011.

I would repot your phal. This will encourage new growth. I repotted my mini a month ago and it is now setting up a little leaf peaking out of the crown!

[Bill U.]

Like the others have said, it sounds like your phal is just moving from the flowering to the growth stage of its cycle. While it is possible to do both at the same time (several of my phals have done this), often times the phal will take the energy that it was putting in the blooms to make new leaves and roots.

After 3 months, it sounds like you had a pretty good cycle going and that your phal is very happy! I would agree that you should probably repot your phal- normally they need repotting every year due to growing media breaking down. As for the spike- I'm sure that if you let it go long enough, the spike would "drop off", however, I would say that when it gets closer to the crown, I would cut it about 0.5-1" away from the crown. Good growing!