Phal need East facing windows?

[flhiker]

Hi Jennie, I think your Phal. needs water. The leaf and roots look a little shriveled. That could be the reason your spike blasted.

[quiltergal]

Jennie, I think Dave may be right. Shriveled leaves is a sign the plant is not getting enough water. This could be happening for a couple of reasons. 1. you aren't watering enough. 2. the root system has rotted because you've watered too much and now there is nothing left to supply the leaves with water. I'm leaning towards #1. Tell us about your watering and feeding schedule. How much and how often, etc.

I still think it needs more light. The leaves are a dark green. Phals with light colored flowers usually have medium to light grassy green leaves. I push em so they have red freckles, or reddish edges to the leaves. Phals with purple flowers will tend to always have darker leaves. The more light you throw at them the darker and more purple they get. When Phals don't get enough light they turn very dark green and the leaves seem to get enormous. The plant is trying to compensate by making more leaf. The longer the leaf gets the greater the stress it puts on the middle. Couple that with not enough water and that could be the answer to the spitting leaves. I would also cut off all the spikes. Let the plant concentrate it's energy on recovery.

[Ross]

I think I am agreeing with Terri. If your Phals are getting sufficient light, the leaves will be light green, not dark green. Also watch the roots. They might run to the green side if the pot is clear, but usually run white when needing water and green when there is sufficient water.

[Jennie]

OK. I will try watering more. However, it's so hard for me to know what is right.
I water and it goes right through. I water probably once a week?
Then, I look in the bottom of the pot and it's full of water. I'm so afraid of the roots getting wet that I dump it out and think I've overwatered, so I don't for a while.

So, how much and how often SHOULD I water?

I'll go water in the morning, again.

Thanks!

Let me know, k? And really... cut off the spikes totally? I hate to, but I will!

Jen

[Jennie]

By the way. Don't know if I mentioned it before, but when I purchased it, the roots were in a plastic bag of water. I thought that possibly couldn't be good, so I took them out.

Why would they have them in a plastic bag? Is that good? Did I mess up, taking them out of that?

Frankly, it was much healthier when it had the plastic around the roots!

[Jennie]

What can I do for more light, though?
Get a grow light? I live in the Pac Northwest. It's in our lightest window! That's always the thing about plants, here. Never enough light! At least I don't live in Alaska!

[flhiker]

I would water the bark mix thoroughly at least 3 times a week. But I would not let water sit under the plastic pot. In other words water thoroughly and then empty the outside pot.

[Jennie]

Look what I found off my board!

This is from 2005 and I was so thrilled that it was flowering! LOL.

Do you know what KIND of orchid it is? I'm so glad I found that picture!! Hey-- it was blooming when it was in that plastic on the roots, in the pot.

[Jennie]

Thank you! I will try that and report back! Three times a week. Should I just take it to the sink and soak it?
Should I be very careful about not getting it at the crown?

It all seems so difficult!

[Jennie]

I'm so sorry I'm too talkative, but I got to looking around and you guys are from all over the place!

My forum is so geographically close. Everyone's from the Pac Northwest. This is so fun to meet you all from all over!

This has me wishing I lived in a warmer climate so that I could have more orchids than good sense!

Thank you for all of your help, you guys!

Jen