Red Tip on Spike? Please HELP! - Orchid Board

Newbie3 · #1 12-03-2011, 10:07 PM

Hi Everyone! I am brand new to the orchid world. I received my first (and so far only) Phalaenopsis as a gift from my boyfriend about three months ago. It was a plant he bought from the grocery store (but it's still beautiful and it was a thoughtful gift) about two weeks after bringing it home all the flowers shriveled up and died so I puned it. I have a feeling the blooms dying has to do with the fact I get TERRIBLE light in my house but due to winter approaching I couldn't put the plant outside. Since then the plant itself has been doing quite well. The spike has grown about another inch and the leaves have grown nice and big and broad with new leaves everging from the apex. Athough no blooms (most likely because there is not enough teperature variation from night to day) everything is a nice healthy green... until recently.

The very tip of the stalk/spike (not sure what the term should be) has turned a dark red/maroon color. From what I have learned through a little bit of research is that it can be normal for the spike to turn red that it is a process of "tanning" as an adjustment to the light (my orchid sits right next to the window since the light in the house is so poor) or if the stalk is dying it may trun red then dry and be ready for pruning. What concerns me is that this red tip seems to have buds on it. It looks like three different "lobes" right at the very tip and all are red and the redness extends about a centimeter down the spike. Is this normal? If not, what should I do?

**I took pictures but am not sure how to post them because when I click the picture icon it asks for a url and the pics are on my computer not online.

silken · #2 12-03-2011, 10:12 PM

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ng-photos.html

Welcome! Here is how to post photos. You don't need a URL.

If the flowers have a lot of pink or purple, red pigmentation can be normal. But a photo will tell more.

I would advise you to check the roots and moss at some point as most Phals come in tightly packed very wet moss that will quickly cause root rot if some of it isn't removed or the plant completely re-potted.

Merlyn · #3 12-03-2011, 10:15 PM

Sounds like your plant may be getting direct sunlight which Phals DON'T like and you may have a sun burnt tip. Hopefully not, but if you are getting direct sun on it, move it back so you don't.

To post pix from your PC scroll down to where it says quick reply and click on "Go Advanced". Type your message, then scroll down to where it says "Manage Attachments" and click on it. A new window will come up where you can browse for your pix and open each one then upload them. They can't be HUGE pix but I have no trouble with most of mine being 1500 x 1200 pixels. Good luck !

Newbie3 · #4 12-03-2011, 10:46 PM

I'd be surprised if it was getting sun burnt (I'm not saying it is not possible) but no where in by house gets ditect sunlight so even with the Phal sitting right on the window sill it may be in a bright-ish area but its not even close to direct light. Ín my house, you can tell that the suns up beacuse it gets bright, but you could never say which way the light was coming from... its very dreary sometimes.

As far as the roots, from what I can see they look plump and green with a foggy coating on them in certain places that has always been there. I have not removed it from the pot to further inspec the roots, should I? Will it be detrinmental to the plant to pull it up and investigate?

Ok I think I figured out the pics, Thank you!!! one is kind of blurry but you can see the discoloration.

Newbie3 · #5 12-03-2011, 10:51 PM

whoops forgot to add: when it does have blooms they are white... so unfortunately the redness isn't due to the pigment of the blooms right?

silken · #6 12-03-2011, 11:06 PM

It sure looks red for a white Phal. It could still be a reaction to bright light if it was kept in a dull place like a store for quite a while and now in a bright window. Maybe someone else will have an opinion.

As for the roots. Phals don't seem to mind being un-potted when in spike o rbloom like most other orchids. I always do it right away because quite often the roots are already starting to rot. They usually come from Taiwan packed in very wet sphagnum with a real tight wet ball of moss in the very centre of the root ball. Phal roots need to breath and can't survive like that for long. I will at least check and usually remove a large amount of the moss. I usually repot with fresh moss mixed with bark chunks and give the roots some little air pockets. Also hopefully the pot they are in has holes and should never be sitting in water.

Daethen · #7 12-04-2011, 09:39 AM

I think what everyone is getting at but not saying outright is that it is the roots that are most important. We all love the blooms, but there will be more of those if we keep the plant healthy. Yours does look good so far. Most phals do not continue to extend their spike with more blooms, though some do. Taking the plant out of the pot and checking the roots will let you know if there is rot or any bugs, etc. hiding in the medium. These plants grow on the sides of trees in nature and have no real medium and lots of air to their roots. If the spike is drying up, it is sad, but a new one should grow in time.

silken · #8 12-04-2011, 11:50 AM

I agree with Daethen. You have a nice robust looking plant but the roots are what's at the core of the plant's health, and they can go bad fast if they aren't cared for correctly. There are many threads on this forum to testify to that

Keep us posted as to what you find and how the spike progresses. they don't need a lot of light so maybe pull it back a bit and see if the red tones down.

Newbie3 · #9 12-04-2011, 12:55 PM

Thank you everyone for all of your help!

I pulled up my Phal to examine the roots. First of all the poor little thing was so tightly packed in there! (Spot-on Silken!) I was actually worried it might break off at the roots if I kept tugging so I took a tweezers and carefully pulled out the substrate on the sides until it was loose enough to remove from the pot. Once out of the pot, you could see there was a solid knot of substrate stuffed inside the roots and the roots had grown curling around it. I pulled out all the substrate and looked at the roots they were nice and plump and green. A lighter green than the leaves and spike but still green with more of a yellow-green at the tips of the roots (see picture) I took note that the substrate was not soaked or water logged. I water it only when the substrate is just about dry and I water it only enough so that the substrate is wet but not soaked.

I replaced it in it's pot, loosely packing the substrate (ended up using only about half of what was in there originally). Also I moved it off of the window sill and set it on a little table. Its still in front of the window, but even stepping it back the few inches will dramatically change the light exposure.

We will have to wait and see how she does. I am so happy to have discovered this site and that you all have been so generous with your information and sharing your knowlege.

One thing I am curious about is what Daethen mentioned. How in the wild orchids grow on the sides of trees and rocks. I noticed this in doing my research and would actually like to try mounting my Phal because I feel nature knows best and if thats how she is supposed to grow then maybe she would do better in a mounted state. Is it possible to take a potted phal and mount it? How should this transition be done? Mounting supplies (what's required?)? And is now a good time of year to do this being December in New England?

I know lots of questions... I will continue with my research and look for relevant threads on the forum but any info or experience you might have in the area would be very much appreciated.

Thanks again!

silken · #10 12-04-2011, 01:09 PM

Newbie3, you are lucky and your roots look good. Many people over-water these. Quite often they are already rotting in the store. Problem with such tight moss, is that the centre ball never gets dry even when the rest of it is. I usually take out about half as well. Amazing so much can fit into the pot! Some people don't like moss but I find a mix of bark and moss works really well for my conditions. Everybody sort of has to figure this out a bit on their own-what works.

There are many on here who mount Phals and many other orchids. Hopefully someone will offer some tips. I don't because most mounted plants need misting every day. I like to go away sometimes so it's just not possible. Many orchids are epiphytic and in nature grow in trees where they get a daily rain, and lots of breezes to dry them off quickly. That's why orchid growers don't just pot them up in regular potting soil. We use things such as moss, bark and coconut husk chunks, charcoal etc. etc. to try to imitate their natural surroundings while still making it work in our homes or greenhouses.

Good luck with your plant. be sure and post pics when some new blooms form. If you visit this forum often, you will likely become an orchid addict like the rest of us