Documentation of Progress for Damaged Phals.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I have pictured here a Phal lindenii, (the Phal on the left), and a Phal stuartiana, (the Phal on the right). Both had lost their leaves for 2 completely different reasons.

Phal lindenii dropped all its leaves because it had been severely weakened by a scale insect infestation. I originally had 2, but the other one didn't make it, and it too had a scale insect infestation and had dropped its leaves because of it.

After the scale had been eliminated, the orchid is recovering nicely.

Phal stuartiana dropped its leaves for some unknown reason. It could've been because of an adjustment period.

It too has started to recover. This particular species has been slower to bounce back than Phal lindenii.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

In case anybody wanted to know just how long I've had both of them for…

I purchased Phal lindenii just as the previous owners of Oak Hill Gardens were getting ready to call it quits, but before they officially handed the company over to the current owners. So it was probably around 2011 or 2012.

The Phal stuartiana was not purchased, it was a freebie from Tropical Orchid Farm around the same years as when Phal lindenii was purchased, (so about 2011 or 2012).

[Leafmite]

Great to see that they are recovering!

[Brooke]

I don't think you have a lindenii. They always have mottled foliage, similar to stuartiana and celebensis.

Phal lindenii JCL_0911 by kentucky4, on Flickr

Brooke

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The old leaves that had completely fallen off had the mottling, the new ones didn't produce the mottling for some reason. It is for 100% certain Phal lindenii, you can tell by the shape of the leaves.

The leaves are elongated, and not as paddle shaped as some other Phals are.

I don't know why the new leaves lack the mottling. I'm assuming it might be because of the size of the leaves. They are still pretty small. To give a sense of scale as to how small the plants are, they are in 2" clear plastic pots.

The mottling on the Phal stuartiana didn't show up very well on the new leaf of this species as well. It is showing a tiny bit, but it was not like how it looked when I first got it.

[james mickelso]

Glad to see you are making a good effort. For me it's more satisfying to save than to buy. Hope these come through. I know they are in very good hands.

[Bud]

It looks like both of the plants will survive. I know the efforts and energy in reviving an infested plant. GL!

[Brooke]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

The old leaves that had completely fallen off had the mottling, the new ones didn't produce the mottling for some reason. It is for 100% certain Phal lindenii, you can tell by the shape of the leaves.

The leaves are elongated, and not as paddle shaped as some other Phals are.

Seriously? There are other Phals that carry the same shape leaf as the lindenii, including the celebensis.

You can change the coloring of the pattern on the leaves by light variations but the foliage will always come in with the markings.

Brooke

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Brooke, you can antagonize me all you like, but that's still going to be a Phal lindenii whether you want to believe it or not. When it blooms you'll see.

When you're calling me out to be a liar, you're calling the previous owners of Oak Hill Gardens out to be one too, just saying.

And, no, I don't have any reason to believe that the previous owners of Oak Hill Gardens mislabeled the 2 Phal lindenii when they picked it out for me and sent it to me.

One did not make it due to repeated scale infestations, but this one did.

But if you think its a Phal stuartiana, or whatever other kind of Phal it is, you can go ahead and believe it.

Hell, if you think it's a Vanda go ahead and think that too.

You might as well think its a dandelion, 'cause to you it'll never be what it really is - Phal lindenii.

Just because this plant doesn't fit in neatly into the paradigm with what is known, doesn't mean it isn't Phal lindenii.

The OLD LEAVES used to have mottling prior to dropping its leaves, the NEW LEAVES grew out this way. I'm sorry that it upsets you, but I can't tell the plant what to do and expect it to obey my orders.

It IS a Phal lindenii. End of discussion.

[james mickelso]

Variations in orchid leaves, especially new leaves coming in after damage occurs, can and often do look somewhat different. same with flowers.