Argh! Sunburned my phalaenopsis. Should I just toss it?

[astrid]

Can you guys help me weigh out the pros and cons of keeping this plant?

So, I left my phal in a spot where it would get more light because winter here is cloudy 90% of the time. I was gone all weekend and apparently we did actually get some sunshine. It gave my phal a righteous sunburn on the leaf that is about 2 inches across, white in the middle, and just ... ugly. It already has a few other ugly leaves, which twisted around as they grew, and some broken during transport.

However, the flowers are quite a lovely pink color, and it has many healthy roots.

It only cost $10, so it isn't a financial issue if I got rid of it.

I'm also going to some orchid shows in the next few months, so having more space for plants with more pretty leaves would be nice.

What should I do? Chuck it or keep it?

[wintergirl]

Give to someone as a starter plant.

[Miss Flower]

You can always cut the leaves that bother you with a sharp and sterile knife. That way you save space but you don't throw it out.

I can't throw them out!!! Unless they are rotten or threatening the rest of the plants in the house due to infection or whatever else...

The other option, as the starter plant is not bad. Or you could bring it to the office/work place assuming you have windows

Also make sure there isn't something else wrong with it...A sunburn to develop that fast is weird especially in the winter. It wasn't under a magnifying glass right?

In any case good luck

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by Miss Flower

Also make sure there isn't something else wrong with it...A sunburn to develop that fast is weird especially in the winter. It wasn't under a magnifying glass right?

In any case good luck

Water on a leaf can act as a magnifyer, making a fast sunburn. Not sure this was the case but it can happen...

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Miss Flower

You can always cut the leaves that bother you with a sharp and sterile knife. That way you save space but you don't throw it out.

[...]

Also make sure there isn't something else wrong with it...A sunburn to develop that fast is weird especially in the winter. It wasn't under a magnifying glass right?

In any case good luck

I can't cut the leaf. It is the biggest leaf, and I don't want to irritate the plant that badly. See in the picture!

I don't think it's odd at all for the plant to sunburn that quickly. It was in window and it got direct midday sun for probably 2-3 hours, two days in a row, and that burnt it badly. I mean, the same would happen to me in just 30 minutes, haha!

The sun gets SO hot here if it is just sitting and directly hitting the leaves, so I keep all my plants in indirect light to avoid that.

[astrid]

Originally Posted by wintergirl

Give to someone as a starter plant.

I don't think I have any friends patient enough to wait for the plant to flower again in 6 or more months. I personally would only want a starter plant unless it was in bloom, but that's just me!

I wish I had more orchid friends...

[jcec1]

Originally Posted by wintergirl

Water on a leaf can act as a magnifyer, making a fast sunburn. Not sure this was the case but it can happen...

Water droplets on a phalaenopsis leaf will not cause sunburn. Water does not act like a magnifying glass on most leaves, it's an urban legend. If it did then, plants in the tropics would all be frazzled.

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by jcec1

Water droplets on a phalaenopsis leaf will not cause sunburn. Water does not act like a magnifying glass on most leaves, it's an urban legend. If it did then, plants in the tropics would all be frazzled.

Interesting, I guess a lot of people believe this urban legend... saw it on Youtube videos.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Cut off the leaf. It really won't bother the plant that much. It should be a relatively easy recovery (though with all things orchid related, it will take some time to grow new leaves to cover the old one).

I had to do some much more drastic leaf surgery with one of my Phals last fall, it is in bud right now with 4 or 5 buds.

[tucker85]

I've had orchids with much worse sunburn than that. I wouldn't throw it out just because of that.