Inside is Out and the Outside is In...

[jkofferdahl]

If anything, the Phal looks a tad dry - but otherwise OK. Where is the light source in relation to the plant? Have you tried turning it 180 degrees?

[charlesf6]

Phal.'s watering monitored very carefully, filtered light from single southern and three western picture windows.
Will try to rotate more often.

[Ray]

Please excuse me, but watering being "monitored very carefully" tells us nothing. I agree with John that it looks underwatered, as phals prefer to be constantly moist, and that looks bone dry.

[charlesf6]

Well that is certainly a different tune than the one I was given when I first came here asking questions on the care of Phalaenopsis.

I was told that the drying period was one that the plant needed more so than overwatering.

I was advised of the watching the roots (clear pots), judging by feel (pot's weight) and the old skewer down center of pot method which still I adhere to.

Am I being told now that I am not to do this?

[Dollythehun]

I understand your concerns about conflicting advice.As I look at the picture again, the medium does look dry. Sometimes when we are asked what is wrong, we try to find something wrong...Hence, questioning the dryness and the orientation. Like John, I grow a lot of Phals, when I don't water enough, my leaves look pleated the length of the leaf. I don't see that, although it might result in cupping.

My opinion, fwiw, is that your plant looks good. If it were mine, I would be pleased. As you know, and bil says it well, " 6 growers, 7 opinions."

[jkofferdahl]

Yeah, six growers, seven opinions. It's sort of how things work with Phals.

Charles, the watering of Phals is a trying experience. I've been growing them for about 40 years and they still surprise me. In looking at your plant, I was looking for a possible cause of an issue, and the immediate thing I saw was how dry your medium looks. That's not to say that you weren't planning to water it right after the photo! Just offered as a POSSIBLE explanation for the slight cupping of the leaves. The final judge on when your plants need watering is you.

[estación seca]

I think the idea is it's safest to let Phals get dry, then water them again as soon as dry. They will live and bloom for years treated that way... as opposed to keeping them wet.

Once people get more experience they can let them get almost dry between waterings... then almost almost dry... then almost almost even almoster dry... but never always wet.

[jkofferdahl]

As I mentioned before, I've been at this for about 40 years now. I think I'm finally getting to where I water my Phals properly!

[rbarata]

I was curious to see what would be an explanation but I have a theory based in my experience with a phal that was under too much light in summer. A new leaf curled as it was growing to minimize, I think, the area exposed to light.
I've out it further away from the window and have turned it to force to get a more natural position (it was curled and bent) and slowly if has uncurled and nos has a more natural look.
It doesn't seems to be harmful because it's growing a spike.




I believe it's just a defense mechanism...it happens also when plants are under too much heat. They curl probably to prevent excessive water loss by transpiration, also acting as a refreshing mechanism due to water accumulation in the confined space created by the curling.

Just a theory...

[estación seca]

I think it is more likely that curled leaves reflect not enough water while the leaf grew.