Keiki leaves on stem are drooping!

[OhMyOrchid]

Hi!

I've had this orchid for a few years now. A few weeks ago, all the leaves suddenly turned yellow and fell off, exept for one. I replanted the orchid as the roots were clearly struggling.

This plant has two keikis on the stem, both with 4+ leaves and 3+ roots, although the roots are around 3 - 4 cm (1.2 -1.6 inches) at most. After the last repotting the largest keiki leaves have started to droop a little and I'm getting worried that they will die - the stem has also started to brown and is reaching the top keiki. I'm too scared to repot them because the roots aren't 5 cm (2 inches) yet, but don't really know what to do. Should I risk repotting them or risk further drooping?

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board.

First, the keikiis - it sounds like the flower stem is dying. They are no longer getting nutrients nor water from the mother plant. You need to repot them now. Clip each plant off very close to the stem. I would suggest fine to medium bark, or small LECA, and the smallest pot that will hold the roots.

Next, as to why the plant is dying. I'm not sure, and there are no photos. If you hadn't repotted in some years the old medium was probably breaking down and the air spaces around the roots were collapsing. Phals need a lot of air at the roots. They suffocate when the medium breaks down. By the time you repotted it might have been too late.

There is an excellent thread here on learning to grow Phals. Read the first 5-10 pages. From the left yellow menu choose Forums, then Beginners. Near the top look at the sticky thread The Phal. abuse stops here.

[OhMyOrchid]

I will definitely try to repot them. I have repotted this orchid before and I even have a healthy keiki from it that's a year old at this point. Something happened over easter while I was away, and I'm not sure exatly what - I don't know if too much nutrion might kill off the plant, but something did.

Thanks for the thread tip and the reply! Hopefully my keikiis survive this

Don't know if these images tell anyone anything, but I'll post them anyway