Strange phal like orchid help...
 

I received this orchid. From a garage type sale the lady said she was not even sure if it was an orchid it has 3 leaves one is huge but the shape is more pointed then normal phal leaves, the strange part is the roots, ive never seen a phal without the classic thick green or silvery phal roots but these roots are thin like the roots on my dendrobium lastly it has a strange growth in the middle can anybody help. sorry if this is a stupid question I am kind of a beginner with orchids. Mostly I just need to kno how to take care if this plant I desperately dont want it to die

Hi Mark, you are asking great questions. There's nothing wrong with being a beginner.

I don't think it's a Phal. It may be what has been called an equitant Oncidium. These have also been called Trichocentrum and Lophiaris. That would explain the fine roots.'

I think the spotting on the leaves might be mineral deposits. Some of them do have spotted leaves but not to that extent. Fungus growing on leaves sometimes looks like this, but usually only in extremely humid tropical areas.

Mule-ear Oncidiums (or Lophiaris) really need to dry out between waterings or they are at risk of rot. Many people find them easier to grow on mounts. If you let this one get good and dry between waterings you will be OK with it.

Really wow thanks' for the information its an amazing plant i have been misting almost everyday but not watering very much ill make sure it gets nice and dry between waterings ... Any idea about the growth in the middle it has such a strange shape. Thanks for your help i will google information right away.. By the way if these spots are fungus is that a problem for the plant should i treat it or wipe it away

Definitely not an equitant Oncidium (most or all in genus Tolumnia). It could be Lophiaris. Does it have pseudobulbs (swollen stem at the base of the leaves)?

The growth in the middle is a normal new growth developing. That is good news. I would not mist most orchids. They can't take up water through their leaves.

No there are no psuedobulbs man orchids are confusing but thanks to everyone for the help

Try to take a new picture of the base of the leaves? Either they have a stem or small bulbs or something- might help someone identify it :)



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There is no stem or bulbs thats why i thought it was a phal just 2old flower stems that were like 2 feet long that grew out like phal stems grow.. From the base. Ill post the pictures in a little when i get wifi

They are not, once you realize there are thousands of species.
Orchids are a family with several genus (or genera), each one with its number of species, each one with their own distribution. Some genus have more than 1.000 species.

Oceania: 50 to 70 genera
North America: 20 to 26 genera
tropical America: 212 to 250 genera
tropical Asia: 260 to 300 genera
tropical Africa: 230 to 270 genera
Europe and temperate Asia: 40 to 60 genera

When someone talks about orchids, the image that comes to our mind (especially when one knows just a little about it) is one of a jungle, with high temps and humidity. This image is simply not accurate because there are many (hundreds or thousands species) that live outside of this environment.

I can see you are in Italy...there are lots of orchids in the fields near your home (it you live near or in the countryside). Because you may not know, you think they are just weeds, also because most of them only have flowers in spring and in some months the plant disappears, leaving only the pbulbs under the soil.

That's why it seems confusing, there are a lot of different orchids, each one with their particular needs.
The trick is to investigate what each one of our orchids needs in terms of temps, humidity, watering, type of media, etc, etc... and that it's just part of the fun.:)

An oeceoclades, perhaps?