Half dead mini phal making flowers.

[NYCorchidman]

I got this little plant with lots of little deep rose purple flowers (Zuma's Pixie) a few months ago. I tend to be a mini phal killer (no idea why!).

This little thing started to lose leaves and flowers. I really wanted to save the plant, so I put the whole thing inside a glass container and nearly completely sealed the mouth with kitchen wrap. I would mist the plant occasionally.
Over the course of one month, all the flowers dropped and three leaves were lost leaving two leaves behind.
Those two leaves got wrinkly over time. With diligent watering and misting, it is slowing coming back and today I noticed that the old spikes (there are two) are making some buds.
One is elongating the end of its spike with some buds and the other spike is branching at two nodes.

So excited! yay!!!!

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[vjo]

If I were you I would cut both of those spikes off,send more energy to the plant. It is trying to save itself...Jean

[quiltergal]

I wouldn't get too excited. The plant is making a last ditch effort to save itself by reproducing. I agree with vjo that cutting the spikes off will redirect the plant's energy into recovering. You don't say if you repotted. Have you checked the roots?

[zxyqu]

I kind of agree with the rest of the group. I'm surprised that if you wanted to save it you didn't snip to spikes off. But then again, these are easy to come by, so if you lose it, just grab another. If it's flowering, and still sulking, it's best to put that energy to better use. Also, make sure to reduce the light a fair bit so it focuses on roots, and not vegetative/flowers growth.

[NYCorchidman]

I do not cut off any spikes unless they turn brown on their own or they are too long and poke into my eyes like certain plants do. lol

Yeah, the plant is repotted and that's the main reason for the decline. from wet moss to dry bark. I should have waited and used something more moist, but I just used whatever I had, which was too dry apparently.
I didn't use the glass container until just recently and I believe the glass container thing really helps the plant from drying out too much. should have done it in the beginning.
I killed lots of minis by drying them out.

The roots are fine, I'm just surprised that the flowers are initiated instead of leaves.
Could be the lower temperature they are going through. All my phals grow during the warmer season of the year and flowers are born during the cooler season, although some flower all year long.

MY Tida Salu did the same thing. I repotted into dry mix. (maybe I shouldn't have). all the flowers were lost and some leaves turned wrinkly.
With careful watering, it made more flowers and now it looks pretty good with over 20 flowers. (It came with over 50 flowers though)

[quiltergal]

Do you soak your bark before repotting? That really helps, plus it gets rid of any salts or other ickies. I don't use bark. I use CHC instead. It tends to hold water a bit longer than bark. Even so, after a fresh repot I have to water more frequently because it does dry out a lot faster than when the CHC is older. Sounds like you have it under control.

[NYCorchidman]

I use CHC for many of my paphs, but all my phals are in either straight moss or bark. I gave a lot of thought about potting my mini phals in something different. My larger phals seem to be doing great in straight bark, but the minis always have issues.
I'm even trying growing in the "mud". will find out how well that works.

[amsteele2]

I have a similar situation with a mini phal, except a bit worse. I'm determined to save it... I know it is a very run of the mill plant, but I am feeling a challenge.

Earlier this year we painted the room where I keep my orchids. I put many of them in a china cabinet after watering to keep them out of the way and safe from Reno dust. I left them in there longer than I should and when I brought this little guy out, I was horrified to see ALL the leaves had yellowed. Within a week, I lost all of the leaves. The roots continued to look fantastic, so I decided to treat the stump with turmeric and cinnamon (there was fungus), and then just see if it would do anything if I watered it.

I was rewarded today when watering to see not a leaf, but a flower spike. It is still a leafless pot of roots. I'm trying to decide what to do... I was excited since this means something is still alive, but I was hoping for a leaf. I see no signs of a leaf.

So, should I let this spike go, in hopes of getting a Keiki? This to me is very exciting... I know it's not a good sign, but I'd be happy to salvage something (the challenge again ). Or should I snip the spike now and hope for a leaf? I'll see if I can figure out how to load up a picture.

Thanks for any ideas! Andrea

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by amsteele2

I have a similar situation with a mini phal, except a bit worse. I'm determined to save it... I know it is a very run of the mill plant, but I am feeling a challenge.

Earlier this year we painted the room where I keep my orchids. I put many of them in a china cabinet after watering to keep them out of the way and safe from Reno dust. I left them in there longer than I should and when I brought this little guy out, I was horrified to see ALL the leaves had yellowed. Within a week, I lost all of the leaves. The roots continued to look fantastic, so I decided to treat the stump with turmeric and cinnamon (there was fungus), and then just see if it would do anything if I watered it.

I was rewarded today when watering to see not a leaf, but a flower spike. It is still a leafless pot of roots. I'm trying to decide what to do... I was excited since this means something is still alive, but I was hoping for a leaf. I see no signs of a leaf.

So, should I let this spike go, in hopes of getting a Keiki? This to me is very exciting... I know it's not a good sign, but I'd be happy to salvage something (the challenge again ). Or should I snip the spike now and hope for a leaf? I'll see if I can figure out how to load up a picture.

Thanks for any ideas! AndreaAttachment 82897

I might be wrong looking at the picture but to me it looks more like a keiki than a spike. If that's true - you've got your wish - something living!

[amsteele2]

Originally Posted by Wild Orchid

I might be wrong looking at the picture but to me it looks more like a keiki than a spike. If that's true - you've got your wish - something living!

Really?? cool! so I won't chop it off then... I'm still shocked it is doing something! thanks! andrea