Phal refuses to grow...
 

I have a phal that absolutely refuses to grow. I got it as my first orchid almost 2 years ago and it rebloomed once. I tried sphag and bag, using a heat pad, lower light, higher light, SuperThrive, organic fertilizers, no fertilizer, pure water, ect. And i didn't just try these things for a little while. It has 2 leaves that don't get any bigger and it doesn't get any new leaves. Almost 2 years ago it got root rot and started to recover and then it bloomed but I cut the spike after the first 2 blooms opened and it hasn't grown since. Other phals I saved from root rot did great and got tons of leaves and roots. This is a noid phal that blooms white with a few purple spots. The roots aren't in active growth and it doesn't have too many roots. It is about 6" under T8 lights, 50% humidity, and 70F to 80F. I grow all my other orchids under T5 lights.

Anyone have any tips or suggestions?

Not an expert but I too, had a couple of really stubborn ones that wouldn't respond to anything.....

Depending on how much you value the plant, you might try something untraditional. I read somewhere that you could shock the plant by exposing it to the cold and that might trigger some growth. (They do that to African Violets, shocking I mean, for example, by squezing the plant's roots. Haven't tried this myself.)

I also heard some people grow Phals in water culture, by placing them in a vase with water. Or perhaps mounting would change its mood....

I'm just speculating but yes, it IS frustrating, especially when others grow and respond just fine. :scratchhead:

Good luck and keep us posted!

WO :waving

I've noticed that some of my phals, particularly the NOIDs, prefer a bit of benign neglect. Have you tried reducing the intensity and duration under the lamps and reducing nighttime temperatures by 5-10°F? It might be that the plant needs a spell of time to rest and rejuvenate?

I'd just stop trying tricks to get the thing to grow. Let it rest. Sometimes that's what they need to do - rest. Keep in mind that NOID Phals are forced to bloom out of season to appeal to customers.

My :twocents:.

Question on the forcing, King--many of my phals are coming into spike right about the same time they were purchased for me as Christmas gifts. Is there a time of year they're "supposed" to bloom? Or do they adjust to the forcing and then keep to the forced schedule? How about paphs? Two of my three paphs are spiking/blooming as well. Just curious.

Well, yes, but we're talking about TWO years here!

WO

Technically that's not true...

He said it bloomed twice. That counts as growth...

Growth = energy being used up. Doesn't matter if it's leaves, roots, spikes, or blooms. This is especially true if it bloomed.

I'm not too clear with his wording, but I think he also might have meant to say that in 2 yrs it grew 2 "undersized" leaves. You also have to remember plants are what are considered plastic. That means that they adjust the way they grow to their environment.

Say for example, if the plant is receiving plenty of light. Well, it will conserve energy and not grow long, wide, floppy leaves. It will grow shorter, narrower, and more firmer leaves to compensate.

Forgot...

Recovering from root rot = energy drain as well.

Usually Phals will revert back to their respective normal flowering seasons. Some Phals will naturally bloom during different times of the year other than spring. Some Phals will naturally even bloom twice a year or more. It really depends on the Phal. It gets particularly hairy with the NOID's.

In general, though, blooming season for Phals are usually, (but not always), spring.

The heaviest growth, (leaves, roots), usually occurs during the warmer months with most Phals, starting during spring and going on throughout the summer months.

I've not been taught how to manage a Paph greenhouse before. As far as I know, they are more difficult to force blooms out of compared to Phals. I only learned to manage Phals in detail, as they were the nursery's main selling crop.

BTW, large-scale nurseries dealing with Phals on a grand scale, have special greenhouses used for forcing blooms. I've had to move some Phals into that greenhouse before.

Also...

Stunted leaves in Phals can be from inadequate access to water. This can result from either the grower not watering enough, or the plant not having enough roots to absorb an adequate amount of water from its environment.

AND...

I know I keep saying this, but...

An orchid's ability to bloom is not necessarily the best indicator of an orchid being in good health. They can also bloom as a last resort - a bailout response as you will, (whether or not it's successful with the bailout response is a whole different story)...