Mini Phal dropped 3 leaves within 2 days

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

I don't think the mini phal will make it. The last leaf has turned yellow. I still don't think it was crown rot. The crown is still green and firm. I still have no idea what caused the sudden leaves to drop. As for the peroxide, I read it is effective for snail treatment. This is my first time using it.

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by SoCalOrchidGirl

I don't think the mini phal will make it. The last leaf has turned yellow. I still don't think it was crown rot. The crown is still green and firm. I still have no idea what caused the sudden leaves to drop. As for the peroxide, I read it is effective for snail treatment. This is my first time using it.

Sorry to hear that, you gave it a good try. Now you need to buy yourself a new orchid.

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

Originally Posted by wintergirl

Sorry to hear that, you gave it a good try. Now you need to buy yourself a new orchid.

Thank you. I still have 2 healthy larger phals, I have another mini that's not doing too good either. Each new leaf is smaller than the previous ones. I wasn't able to ever rebloom it. Maybe I should just stick to larger phals.

[practicaldreamer]

So sorry that this happened, I lost a mini phal this week under similar circumstances. It really is astounding how quickly a healthy plant can go downhill when rot sets in.

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by SoCalOrchidGirl

Thank you. I still have 2 healthy larger phals, I have another mini that's not doing too good either. Each new leaf is smaller than the previous ones. I wasn't able to ever rebloom it. Maybe I should just stick to larger phals.

I think mini phals are harder to care for, easier to over-water or dry out.

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

Originally Posted by practicaldreamer

So sorry that this happened, I lost a mini phal this week under similar circumstances. It really is astounding how quickly a healthy plant can go downhill when rot sets in.

Im sorry to hear about your mini phals. But I totally agree about the lightning speed how fast it goes down hill. The plant is so small to begin with and any water that gets stuck in between leaves are almost not noticable.

---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 AM ----------

Originally Posted by wintergirl

I think mini phals are harder to care for, easier to over-water or dry out.

Yes! So true.

[lotis146]

In your first pic it looks as though you kept it in mostly moss? What are your watering tendencies, over, under? Dense moss can stay moist for a VERY long time and it can be tempting to say eh, it's just a little moist and still water. I'm not against moss by any means, in fact it's often my friend b/c I under-water, but learning to use it in one's personal conditions - that change throughout the year - is the challenge.

[bil]

Originally Posted by SoCalOrchidGirl

Im sorry to hear about your mini phals. But I totally agree about the lightning speed how fast it goes down hill. The plant is so small to begin with and any water that gets stuck in between leaves are almost not noticable.

and as I keep saying. Every time I water my phals, I DELIBERATELY fill the crown with water.


None of those have gone down to crown rot yet.

[SoCalOrchidGirl]

Originally Posted by lotis146

In your first pic it looks as though you kept it in mostly moss? What are your watering tendencies, over, under? Dense moss can stay moist for a VERY long time and it can be tempting to say eh, it's just a little moist and still water. I'm not against moss by any means, in fact it's often my friend b/c I under-water, but learning to use it in one's personal conditions - that change throughout the year - is the challenge.

I potted in a mixture of bark and moss. The bark has deteriorated over the course of year, it was due for a repot soon. I normally let it get dry between watering. That picture I took was Friday and the orchid just received hydrogen peroxide bath on wednesday and the medium was still damp. When I water I normally let it soak for 15 mins and only let the water get half way up the pot. That's my watering habit. The water never reach the crown, I let the roots on the bottom of the pot pull up the moisture. But because I found snails in one of my other orchids, I had to soak the entire container and I think I got water in between the lower leaves. The orchid was actually doing very well before. It was growing a new leaf.

---------- Post added at 11:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:33 AM ----------

Originally Posted by bil

and as I keep saying. Every time I water my phals, I DELIBERATELY fill the crown with water.


None of those have gone down to crown rot yet.

Your condition must be different than mine. I live in southern California and the weather here is pretty hot and dry. I keep all my phals indoor and the drying speed is much slower. I have some cattleyas and dendrobium nobiles that I keep outside on my balcony and I have to water ever morning to keep them hydrated. The hot dry weather here dry out the medium in one day.

[bil]

Originally Posted by SoCalOrchidGirl

Your condition must be different than mine. I live in southern California and the weather here is pretty hot and dry. I keep all my phals indoor and the drying speed is much slower. I have some cattleyas and dendrobium nobiles that I keep outside on my balcony and I have to water ever morning to keep them hydrated. The hot dry weather here dry out the medium in one day.

Nope. It is at the moment so hot and dry here in Southern Spain that I am watering every day too.
The dens and catts get so hot in the greenhouse, that they are watered every day, misted 16 times a day, and sometimes given an afternoon water too.