phal leaves seem wilted

[bettyboop]

My phal has produced a single new spike this winter but its leaves seem to be wilted. I'm using sphagnum moss and it's in a bright window. Leaves are very dark green with no new growth lately. Lots of airborne roots also. Any suggestions?

[Tindomul]

Check roots, they could be dead/dieing. Have you recently repotted? I would see about keeping it more humid.

[priz_m]

Originally Posted by Tindomul

Check roots, they could be dead/dieing. Have you recently repotted? I would see about keeping it more humid.

I agree. Unless you don't water it at all (that I don't believe to be the case), the plant root's are not getting the water to the rest of it because they are dead/dying. Sometimes the vendors pack the moss too tight which retains too much water suffocating the roots and ending in root rot.

Fear not, check the root system, if you've never repoted do it now. Don't forget to cut back any rotten root and treat with cinnamon.

Here's a helpful link on repotting phals

Easy Orchids - Re Potting A Phalaenopsis

Hope it gets better!
keep us posted.

[Becca]

I agree with the others in regards to you needing to check the roots. One other thought though, you mentioned the leaves are dark green....depending on the type of phal it is, the leaves should be more of a light green, and the dark green indicating it is still not getting enough light possibly. But if you repot it, don't try and up the lighting quiet yet. What direction does your window face that you are growing this in? Could you possibly take a picture of the 'chid and it's roots so we can see what's going on? Like I said the color of the leaves will depend on what kind of phal it is. I have a Phal that has dark green leaves but I think part of that is due to the purple tint it has naturally on the under side of the leaves.

[Amanda L]

Definitely check the roots. For me Sphagnum moss helps me kill roots. Be careful with the cinnamon though, try not to get it on the healthy roots too much. The cinnamon will kill the root rot, but it will prevent your healthy roots from absorbing the amount of water that they need, I have also heard that it will inhibit root growth.

[Gin]

Sounds like the roots in the pot are not good if there are a lot of roots out of the pot they might not be getting enough water I agree about re potting with the out roots in the pot .

[bettyboop]

thanks for the suggestions. I recently did repot with new sphagnum. clipped off dead roots but maybe not enough. this plant has been so healthy for two years I don't understand why it's in trouble now. light is south, very strong - unfortunately I'm up in the North country with heat on all day, cooler at night so house is pretty dry. It's hard to provide much humidity.

[Amanda L]

To help with the humidity a little, try a humidity tray. I didn't want to buy one so I stole a casserole dish from the kitchen, put some large decorative stones in the bottom, filled it up with water and topped it off with a cooling rack. Cheap I know, but hey, it's practically the same, right?

[Tindomul]

Sometimes the plant looses access to humidity when it get repotted. Is the sphag drying out faster than did its old sphag? Or maybe it was too wet and the roots rotted. In either case, I would try to lessen its problems by giving it higher humidity until it grows new roots.

[HPS Chris]

Sphag always kills my roots. If you need to use sphag because of the humidity deficency.... I would definitly make sure to repot it with a 1:1 ratio of Sphag and perilite to make sure lots and lots of air is around the roots... can u post a picture?