Help identify whats wrong with this phal - Orchid Board

sweta · #1 03-13-2021, 01:51 AM

Hi all,

I purchased this orchid on clearance from freddys when all the blooms had fallen off last season. I repotted the plant in new medium. Got a secondary flower spike that just recently bloomed and there a new leaf growing. However the leaves look twisted and some are split and they look really weird. I noticed the new leaf also has a split at the leaf tip. I'm not sure if this is some kind of virus. I'm wondering if its worth keeping this plant or to just discard it. I'm afraid that my other plants might get infected as well. Kindly advice.

sweta · #2 03-13-2021, 02:01 AM

Here's another phal which has some kind of pitting on the leaf. This one was repotted as well in fresh media. I cut the flower spikes last season. Now a new leaf and new roots are growing. This phal had beautiful yellow blooms with mix of bright pink. I'm again wondering if this is some kind of virus and if its better to discard it. Its so hard to think of letting these plants go. Please advice.

sweta · #3 03-13-2021, 02:16 AM

This is another mini phal, produced a secondary spike and bloomed as well. Its growing a new root now but the leaves have some kind of pitting. I havent seen any spider mites so far.

estación seca · #4 03-13-2021, 02:19 AM

The splits along the centers of the leaves are from a long period of underwatering. The curved transverse light mark in the second plant looks like the leaf was folded over the edge of the previous pot.

Mountaineer370 · #5 03-13-2021, 08:39 AM

I was thinking the same thing, that they look like they have been very much underwatered. Were the leaves in that kind of condition when you acquired them, or did it happen over a period of months in your home?

In order to give advice as to what you should do now, I think we need to know a little bit more about your home's conditions in regards to temps, humidity, light, watering frequency, etc.

Dollythehun · #6 03-13-2021, 11:33 AM

I agree w the others. It looks like severe drought but, knowing your conditions and care regimen would help us diagnose.

sweta · #7 03-13-2021, 01:28 PM

Thank you all for your responses. The 1st plant with light pink blooms was in the same state when I boight it. Leaves looked weird twisted with splits in the middle and leaf edges were crooked. The second plants leaf split was already there when I bought the plant. After repotting it lost a lot of roots so its dehydrated a bit but it seems to be recovering now as I see new leaf and new root poking through. Temperature conditions in my house are a bit warm 70F. I water these plants once a week, top soil dries out soon but I just spray water on alternate days to keep the top soil moist as the lower part of the soil is still wet. But once a week i soak the media in water for 20min and then drain out the water.

estación seca · #8 03-13-2021, 02:48 PM

They were underwatered for a long time before you got them. New leaves should grow normally.

70 F is not warm for a Phal.

They should recover and grow. Good luck!

aliceinwl · #9 03-13-2021, 04:19 PM

I agree they should recover fine. I have a few that I purchased in a similar state. The first leaves produced in my care were wonky too, but once the root systems fully recovered subsequent leaves were normal. At room temperature (70s), which is how I keep most of mine, growth is slow so it may be a year or so before plants are fully recovered depending on how bad a shape they were in to start with.

sweta · #10 03-13-2021, 08:07 PM

Thank you all so much I'm so relieved to know I won't have to part with these orchids😀 I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.