Variegated Phal Leaves Drooping

[Luckyelfie]

I bought a sweet Phal Sogo Vivien at the POS and it was planted in moss. The next day I repotted it and others I bought in my bark/moss/perlite mix I use for all my phals. They are all doing well except my Sogo Vivien. Her leaves just getting droppier and droopier.

Her roots were ok when I repotted her, I think I trimmed of one or two, but it wasn't bad. The roots look okay still, nice bright green. The media I use stays wet about 3-4 days and starts really drying out about day 6. I usually water day 7. I water based on need, not the day of the week.

I'm at a loss as what to do. I thought today maybe because of the varigated leaves she might need more sun so I put her under my grow lights. Its been raining endlessly here. The lights are what I use for my African violets so not too strong.

I flushed her with rain water when I first planted her, the 2nd watering was with diluted kelp and since then diluted MSU. PLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEase help!!!

The attached picture is from the day I bought her.

[Optimist]

As in they don't stand up straight? Are the leaves soft?
are the roots good? (firm/white).

Phal leaves are floppier than most. That's why I ask.

[Dollythehun]

Can we see a picture now?

[SundayGardener]

This is happening to mine too! It is such a bummer. I swear it started drooping the moment it entered the house. What the heck. Even I can't have terminated it that quickly. Temperatures were pretty low outside when I got it, so maybe it got too cold? The other orchids from the same show (a phrag, twinkle and den) are doing just fine.

No wisdom to offer but you are not alone.

[Luckyelfie]

Her leaves are super floppy. I'm trying to get my photos to sync and will post as soon as they do. They are like tissue paper they are so malleable.

[Luckyelfie]

Here are the pictures.

[Luckyelfie]

Here is a picture of her roots in the pot...at least 1 of them

[aliceinwl]

I got one of these at the Santa Barbara show along with some other Phals. I haven't repotted mine out of moss yet. Mine look to have good roots, but a couple are slightly droopy. I'm thinking that it might just be an adjustment to the cooler temperatures and lower humidity at my house. I'm trying to restrain myself from over watering and basically taking a wait and see approach.

[camille1585]

If all the roots look as nice as the ones that cane be seen through the pot, then it's a bit odd that the plant is so limp.

First step, cut that spike off because it's diverting water and energy from the plant. Keep it some place warm and not too bright (sounds like where you have it is fine).

It does sound similar to what happened with my Sedirea japonica (now classified as a Phal). I bought it potted in sphag, repotted it in a bark+sphag mixture, and then the leaves started going limp (but not as much as yours). Roots were perfectly fine. My best guess was the roots were used to the very moist environment they had in the packed sphag. So I kept the plant warm, and made sure to water as soon as the roots started turning silver again. I tried to find and stay just below the fine line between heavy watering and over-watering. After a month or so the plant started to firm up again and once new roots started growing it was out of the woods. Only had this with one plant, so I have no way of knowing if that was truly the problem.

[Dollythehun]

I can't add any wisdom but, I have had mine for at least a year and the leaves are much, much, shorter. My plant looks almost miniature but is blooming well on a very compact spike.