Phal flowers wilting prematurely

[thepurpleorange]

Ok so by now, I've had a fair amount of experience with orchids, but this is my first Phal. I know everyone says Phals are the easiest to take care of but in my tropical (11' north of the equator) temperatures, Phal's are actually seen as for more experienced orchid growers!

Well, my Phal blooms (which look almost exactly like a Leopard Prince), after one month or so of being in spike, are wilting. I've read that they are actually supposed to last a lot longer than a month. Also, they aren't wilting like the oldest bud first, it's sort of random, so second oldest went 2 days ago, then the newest bud went today etc.

the leaves are fine; green and plump. It's potted in only sphag in a clear plastic container. I keep it in a bright room indoors at a temp of about 23-26 C. I am thinking it could be overwatering because the moss it came in was a bit old.

Is this what happens when you overwater a phal? flowers drop?

would be glad if I could get a little insight here.... Thanks in advance everyone!

[WhiteRabbit]

A draft maybe, or sudden temp change? Extreme heat can cause blooms to drop prematurely.

[silken]

Have you checked the roots?

[camille1585]

After a month it could have been normal flower drop, but if they are falling randomly, maybe not. How hot is it where the Phal grows?
Other than the rpevious suggestions, have a look for bugs maybe. I had a mealy bug infestation that started in the blooms once, and like you they were randomly wilting. Turns out, when I looked closely, that the bloom were full of young mealies.

[thepurpleorange]

Thanks for all your responses!!

Well the roots are green since the sphag moss it's in is constantly moist. That's why I was worried about the overwatering. But I thought if that were the case, the roots would have become brown from rotting, which they haven't.

I doubt it is a bug infestation, since it's kept in my office. Plus I inspect the flowers and plant like a maniac almost every day.

I don't know if it may have had something to do with the temperature. I have the air con in my office on during the day (8am-5pm) at 20-23C. After we leave it's turned off, so in the night time it goes to about 25-27C. I guess a kind of reverse from what it should be. But it's been doing fine for so long I can't see why weeks after, this would have only now begun to affect it.