I need help with my phal :( - Orchid Board

HimeNoHogosha · #1 02-02-2008, 07:02 PM

We have an orchid at my office that was given as a gift 2 years ago. It hasn't flowered since we first received it, and there isn't even a stem anymore. Recently we moved to a new office and I decided to try and revive it. I re-potted it with a new pot and medium. I used orchid bark I bought from Lowes and a pot with lots of holes for drainage. It hasn't been doing well though

The leaves started getting droopy and they look like they are getting this leathery shriveled look. You can see this from the pictures below.

I water it every couple of days, and don't have it in direct sunlight. Can anybody tell me what may be wrong with it from the pictures? I'm suspecting perhaps the air in the new office is too dry.. and it seems that the heating/ac is always on even at night so there is no temperature gradient. Could this be a problem too?

CoolPhrog · #2 02-02-2008, 07:08 PM

Hi Hime, welcome to the orchid board!

Try to make sure the heat/ac isn't blowing directly on the plant. My first thought was that it is thirsty but when you said that you're watering it every couple days...

Are you feeding it? If so, how often? When you re-potted your friend, how did the roots look?

HimeNoHogosha · #3 02-02-2008, 07:42 PM

No I haven't bought any fertilizer for it. Would it help a lot? Also what type of fertilizer should I pick up?

It isn't sitting underneath any air ducts. The previous pot the plant was in used some kind of dirt, and was packed quite densely. The pot also did not have good drainage, so it was quite moist. The roots were packed tightly with some mossy-like stuff so I removed most of that. The roots themselves looked soggy and brownish, with only one or two roots being white-ish. I can remove the plant from it's current pot to take a picture of its roots for you if it would help, but is it a good idea to basically re-pot it again?

CoolPhrog · #4 02-02-2008, 07:53 PM

sounds like you might have a root rot problem on your hands. I would cut back on the watering. My phals like to be throughly watered but then I let them dry out almost completely until I water them again. You did the right thing by "unpacking" all that bad moss and "soil" from around the roots...orchids need air around their little root feet and potting them in soil and moss can wind up restricting the roots and literally suffocating them.

As far as fertilizer, I would try something that would encourage new root growth. Like KLN root hormone which is ok to use with tap water....the pot and the medium look fine but if the roots are that bad....maybe a picture would be helpful.

camille1585 · #5 02-02-2008, 07:54 PM

Your phal is really dehydrated, but obviously lack of water isn't the problem since you water every few days. With only two roots, it's possible that you have overwatered, and the medium doesn't dry out enough. If it's been a while since you repotted, it might be a good idea to check the roots again. If you just repotted maybe you need to reduce watering a little bit and and raise the humidity if at all possible to limit evaporation from the leaves.
Watering depends on individual conditions, but in the winter I usually water every 5 to 8 days. I put a wooden skewer in the pot, and I water when only when it feels slightly damp to the touch.
Can you bring it home with you to give it better conditions until it recovers?

CoolPhrog · #6 02-02-2008, 08:06 PM

Try this link, Hime:

http://www.orchidboard.com/Phalaenop...ure-Care-Sheet

and this one for general care. I found it to be extremely helpful!

http://www.orchidboard.com/How-to-grow-orchids

quiltergal · #7 02-02-2008, 08:06 PM

First a question. When you did your repot did you soak the bark 24hrs before using? That's really important as the soaking opens up the bark and allows it to retain more moisture. If you didn't I would unpot and soak the medium in boiling water for about 30 minutes and then repot after it cools. Boiling water achieves the same result as soaking 24 hrs.

If the plant really only had two viable roots as you state then there aren't enough roots soaking up water to sustain a plant of that size. You are going to lose some leaves for sure, but with a little TLC it'll bounce right back. I would tent a plastic bag over it and try to increase the humidity a little. That should slow down the leaf shrivel. Do as iphrog suggests and hit it with a little KLN water. Keep it warm and in a slightly less bright area.

Tsuchibuta · #8 02-02-2008, 08:49 PM

The similar leathery look happened to my phals last winter. It was due to the lack of humidity. I recently moved and used to grow my phals in a basement where it's naturally a little damp, where I move to has no basement so they ended up on in the breezeway with it's electric heater. Nearly all of them looked like this. I used a portable electric burner and an old stock pot and boiled water in the breezeway a few times each day. The steam raised the humidity and over time the plants regained their plump leaves. Unfortunately you are in a office where this may not be an option so the bag method may be the best option or take it home and nurse it until it is healthier. I would hold off on the watering and repotting again as you would probably do more harm than good here if you on only have 2 roots. It has been my experience if you water sparingly and just increase the humidity the plant will send out new roots. It needs water and if it can't get it from the existing roots it will produce new ones to gain access to it. The key is to reduce the amount of evaporation from the plant until this process takes place.

CodiMN · #9 02-05-2008, 02:15 PM

Hime,
I know some orchid board members actually bring in a little humidifier to help keep their work area/orchid area humid. Just a general humidifier you can pick up at any drug store, target, etc. Can't remember who it was, but they had a super cute humidifier that looked like a frog! Great conversation piece I'm sure!

When an orchid is unhappy, it'll take a little bit more TLC to nurse it back to health. Be patient and keep asking questions. It helps us all learn.

CoolPhrog · #10 02-05-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CodiMN

Hime,
I know some orchid board members actually bring in a little humidifier to help keep their work area/orchid area humid. Just a general humidifier you can pick up at any drug store, target, etc. Can't remember who it was, but they had a super cute humidifier that looked like a frog! Great conversation piece I'm sure!

When an orchid is unhappy, it'll take a little bit more TLC to nurse it back to health. Be patient and keep asking questions. It helps us all learn.

That's a great idea! Oh Lord! I see another "purchase for the sake of the cids" coming on!