new leaf already?

[Atzau]

hi all, so i had rescued this phal from my sister and it would put out blooms but the leaves would get all soft (probably because there really wasn't too much of a root system left)... so i cut off the bloom spike and repotted it into a smaller pot with very loose spag. it was responding well with new root growth and a fat new leaf. but now, i notice a new leaf forming, even though the previous leaf (though nice and firm) is still very small. why is this plant growing a new leaf when the last one is still so small?

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[Dante1709]

Lack of nutrients and water, probably due to a small root system, most likely caused smaller leaves. With time, I think it might grow roots and begin getting larger leaves. I say might, because plants are unpredictable and odd. Either way, I think that a new leaf is a good thing. Keep treating it like you are, because obviously it likes it!

[Atzau]

here are a couple of pics



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[Atzau]

since the new repot it's pushed out 4 new roots... possibly more... i hope there's more new ones under the spag that i can't see! :rolleyes: I'm just surprised by how tiny that new leaf is! if another new leaf tip is starting to peak out, does that mean this previous one won't get any bigger?

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[Optimist]

An upper leaf being smaller than a lower means it is not getting the same resources it had when the lower leaf formed. Leaves are like tree rings. Trees have thin rings in droughts and when times are hard. They have thick rings when it rains a lot and times are great. Without the roots it was stressed. It gave you what it could. Now you have more roots. I'll bet the new leaf will be larger. For a while your phal is going to be a bit lopsided.

[Atzau]

Originally Posted by Optimist

Without the roots it was stressed. It gave you what it could. Now you have more roots. I'll bet the new leaf will be larger. For a while your phal is going to be a bit lopsided.

looking forward to a slightly lopsided, hopefully healthier, phal!


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[james mickelso]

The original leaves were produced in nice bright, warm, humid conditions. When you got it the conditions had changed. Once re-potted the conditions have again changed and so the plant is responding to those changes. If it is pushing leaves and roots it is very healthy. It had enough resources to produce leaves and roots. Whatever you are doing, keep on keepin on. Orchids producing spikes or flowers as a last gasp to produce offspring is a myth. Bud blast is a perfect example. Orchids produce flowers when they have enough stored energy to do so and for no other reason. Plants exist as chemical factories. They don't think. They only respond. That's how God made them. Condition/response. That's all there is.

[lauraeli]

Originally Posted by Atzau

hi all, so i had rescued this phal from my sister and it would put out blooms but the leaves would get all soft (probably because there really wasn't too much of a root system left)... so i cut off the bloom spike and repotted it into a smaller pot with very loose spag. it was responding well with new root growth and a fat new leaf. but now, i notice a new leaf forming, even though the previous leaf (though nice and firm) is still very small. why is this plant growing a new leaf when the last one is still so small?

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The leaf on your phal looks mature, but it is hard to tell with your pictures. You can tell when a leaf is done growing when the break-off point is visible. This is a line near the base of the leaf, where it naturally separates when the leaf is shed. Here is a picture. The red arrows show the line I'm talking about. The yellow arrow shows a leaf that lacks that line. It mean that leaf is still growing.

[quiltergal]

As the size/health of your root system improves so will the size of your new leaves. There is no point in the plant growing a great big leaf if it doesn't have enough of a root system to support it. The fact that it is growing leaves and roots is a good thing.

[Atzau]

Originally Posted by lauraeli

The leaf on your phal looks mature, but it is hard to tell with your pictures. You can tell when a leaf is done growing when the break-off point is visible. This is a line near the base of the leaf, where it naturally separates when the leaf is shed. Here is a picture. The red arrows show the line I'm talking about. The yellow arrow shows a leaf that lacks that line. It mean that leaf is still growing.

hmmm...don't see the break off point yet.


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