Phal Concerns
 

I have questions about a noid phal in spike and was hoping someone could provide some answers about what's going on.

1. I found a bump forming on the otherside of a new leaf forming. I cut it off originally and disinfected with alcohol, but it just grew back next to it. Is this equivalent to a wart? Should I be concerned or is it ok to leave it alone?

2. Is a new root growing here? It seems stuck. Will this eventually make the bottom leaf fall off?

3. This is the second to bottom leaf. It has changed from olive to this dark brown with reddish tint. It's dry and scaly to the touch. The black spots were originally there when I got this orchid during Christmas, but they have gotten considerably darker and more sunken in. It is also droopy and floppy now. What should I do? Should I cut it off?

Thanks for the help as always!
Susan

1. Not sure what it is.

2. It is a root. Don't worry about it, it'll be fine and will not make the leaf drop.

3. The leaf is going to drop.

For what it's worth, it looks to me like the orchid may not be getting enough light or moisture. I could be wrong of course. The leaves are very dark and they look dehydrated. If it were me I would try to give it more light. I haven't had much success with phals planted in hydroton. I don't think it holds the moisture long enough. My favorite medium is coconut husk chips. If you're going to leave it in hydroton I would consider misting the surface of the medium daily. The bump could be scale or a bacterial infection. Usually I just use soap and water with a paper towel to clean it off the leaf. Don't worry about the root. Sometimes they grow through the leaf but usually they find a way around it. The plant knows how to do it better than we do. The bottom leaf will probably have to come off but I leave them until they're completely yellow before removing them. Good luck.

I have it growing in front of an eastern facing window. I pushed back the sheer curtain to make sure it gets full morning sun. It's interesting that you say it may not getting enough light, because I have a phal sogo grape right next to it and another person posted under "Phal Leaf Dying" that it may be getting too much light since the bottom leaf on that one dropped. I'm not really sure what to do. There is low humidity in the house and some air movement as the central air vent is on the ceiling above the orchids. I will post another photo of the leaves tomorrow so you can get a better view of the other leaves. The other leaves are not brown like the one that's going to drop. It's an olive color and feels firm to the touch.

I think it's getting too much light. I am no expert but when I placed one of my orchids in full morning sun for about a week the leaves got really red and the orchid died. from what i've read online and in books if your leaves are reddish it's sunburn so it's getting too much sun

Oh WOW! Is your phal really that purple color all over?! If so, that's a sign of WAY TOO MUCH LIGHT! If there is even a slight purplish tinge on the old leaves (not a newly forming one), this is an indication of being exposed to too much/too intense of light. You should be searching for a place where the leaves stay a nice, plump and healthy dark green and not turning purple.

Each person's east/west/north/south windows in their home come with different sets of circumstances that determine light levels. I know most people and books say place them in either a north or east window, but if there is nothing there to block the direct light falling upon it then that's bad. I have a neighbor's house right next to my house (maybe 4 feet away) so my phal's don't ever get direct sun in most of my eastern windows. The same neighbors used to have a large tree in their backyard until they cut it down late last year, now I can't put orchids in some of my eastern windows because the sun is way too intense.

If you place your hand about a foot above where you want your orchid to go while the sun is shining full strength in your area, if you can see the shape and outline of your hand in the shadow, then the light is too much. You are searching for a shadow that still holds your form but has no distinct edges.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions everyone! :) I just put the rest of my orchids, except for a cym backbulb, behind a sheer curtain.

The phal is not purple all over. That photo was just the underside of the new leaf in the first picture. The top of the leaves are actually olive. I thought they looked dark, which is why I had them unshaded during the winter. It did get lighter to this olive color after I moved the sheer curtain away in the winter. However once the warmer weather hit, the olive color did not change except for that 2nd to bottom leaf and bottom leaf on the other side. The bottom leaf never really looked great to begin with so I'm not surprised if that drops.

Here are some more photos:
1. Photo 1 - Overall view of phal.
2. Photo 2: I originally thought this orchid was in spike and was growing roots all over. However, as it started to get bigger, it looks like leaves rather than nodes. Is this really a keiki?
3. Photo 3: Is this a new root?

2. Yes, those are keikis.

3. Yes, that is a new root.

Hmm... I guess I still don't have my first home grown spike then. Woops! Still can't complain about a keiki! :D This is very exciting! My very first phal keiki! Thanks for the clarification! No wonder there are new roots growing everywhere!

I have a Phal. that has naturally dark maroon leaves. It receives the same amount of light as the others. It's a harlequin. I have a Hilo Lip that has very dark purple flowers that also has dark purplish leaves. Some are just that way naturally, so it may not be too much light. What color are the flowers on this one?