Phalaenopsis dark withered leaves

[cra323]

I’ve had this orchid for 10 years now. A couple years ago, I noticed it’s leaves would get dark, splotchy, and withered almost as soon as they grew in. It continues to bloom, grow roots, and put out new leaves, and I thought it would eventually grow out of whatever problem it was having, but alas. Does anyone have any idea what this could be, and how I can fix it?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by cra323

Does anyone have any idea what this could be, and how I can fix it?

To work towards sorting out the problem - the first step is to assess the growing conditions ----- temperature, temperature range, light levels and lighting duration, humidity, state of roots through-out the growing season, state of media (eg. very wet, very moist etc), media type, pot type, pot drainage, watering schedule, fertiliser schedule, and mag-cal schedule, air-movement in growing area etc.

[cra323]

... This orchid grows amongst several other phals that are thriving in the same environment, potting media, watering schedule, etc...

[estación seca]

It looks like it's growing in pure sphagnum moss. Is that correct? When was the last time you repotted it?

In the photos the only live roots I can see may be the small ones above the sphagnum moss. There might be other live roots in the pot, but I don't see them.

How are you watering it? Normally using sphagnum moss you should just briefly dampen the top of the moss. The water disperses evenly throughout the moss. The moss remains barely damp with plenty of air spaces.

If you soak the sphagnum the air spaces are filled with water, and the roots may suffocate. Having very few and tiny roots could cause the plant to look like this.

[cra323]

It’s a mix, but heavy on the moss because it tends to dry out quickly in my house. I water every week and a half or so, sometimes longer. I repotted a year ago. Those are new roots you see, started growing about three weeks ago. There are roots throughout that are nice and green and healthy.

[estación seca]

I'm not sure what the problem is. The leaves look like they might have very small pits. I wonder whether the plant has spider mite damage. Mites are common on Phals and can cause poor growth. They are so small they can easily be missed when there are so few the characteristic cobwebbing is not visible on the undersurface of leaves. Whether I saw mites or not, I would spray a plant looking like that with a solution of liquid dish soap 1 Tbs/15ml per quart/liter of water, taking care to spray all exposed parts of the plant, and the top of the potting medium. I would repeat every 4-5 days for 3 treatments total. If that is the problem, the new leaf should grow out looking healthy. Check your other plants for mite damage as well.

One of the older leaves has longitudinal furrows, suggesting insufficient water for quite some time. That could be caused by not enough watering or poor roots. If the pot is well aerated inside, you could water more often than 15-20 days. In fact, if there are big air spaces at all times, you could water it every day, and it will grow better. Phals prefer to have good air at the roots along with always-moist roots. Most of the ones dying in cultivation are in potting media with few, small air spaces; these must be watered much more carefully. Even plants in tight sphagnum are generally watered more often than ever 15-20 days, so I suspect lack of water is part of the problem with this plant.

The plant is quite high in the container, and making new roots just below the leaves. Happy Phals should have at least 4 healthy leaves. In a humid environment they often carry a lot more. Even though it's been a year, I would consider repotting lower in the pot so the root forming zone is in the medium.

Do you know what is the humidity in the space where you grow it? I suppose there is an outside possibility you have an individual plant that just doesn't like lower humidity levels in a home.

[cra323]

It did suffer some neglect after the birth of my third and fourth child. I’m back on track in regards to the watering schedule. I will definitely take your advice and repot it, and treat it with the solution you suggested. The plants surrounding it don’t have the same problem, so I’m not sure if it’s mites, but I suppose it wouldn’t hurt (?)

The humidity tends to be on the lower side IN our home, though we live in an extremely humid environment (South Carolina). We keep fans and AC running in the house, so air flow isn’t a problem.

Thank you so much for your help!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by cra323

... This orchid grows amongst several other phals that are thriving in the same environment, potting media, watering schedule, etc...

That's what I mean heheh. You didn't mention any details, including the above.

Eg. ----- indoor/outdoor growing conditions, any mag-cal treatments, any fertiliser treatments, schedule etc.

Originally Posted by cra323

There are roots throughout that are nice and green and healthy.

That's really good news. That's a nice sign.

Do the roots remain nice like that? Or any previous signs of degradation (rotting etc - in the past that is)?

Originally Posted by cra323

It did suffer some neglect after the birth of my third and fourth child.

Those other orchids suffered the same neglect, but not negatively impacted, right? Just assuming not the same effects.

[Ray]

I would not chalk that up to a chronic condition at all. In fact, the plant looks reasonably healthy to me.

What I suspect is that it's a combination of plant pigmentation and the use of relatively hard water, or water with a lot of dissolved solids.

Not all plants react the same way to the same conditions.