Phal schilleriana not growing new leaves

[j_orchids]

Hello,

I hope you can help me. I got this Phal schilleriana back in Feb. It had four leaves. It lost it's two lower leaves and the larger of the two remaining leaves is a bit sun damaged (I think). Ever since I got it, it has been growing lots of healthy-looking roots, but has shown no signs of leaf growth.

I had it in a west-facing window for a few months where it received a couple hours of direct sun per day. It is now in a northeast-facing window where it sometimes receives a bit of direct sun in the morning (if not cloudy) and lots of indirect light the rest of the day. Environment is on the dry side. I mist the roots on top just about every day and alternate between filtered tap water and orchid fert at the concentration recommended for use at every watering. I give it a very occasional deep soaking.

~ Jon

[PaphMadMan]

The plant still looks basically healthy, but somewhat dehydrated. It was probably light stressed in the west window and that often means heat stress too - sunlight on leaf = hot leaf, especially if there isn't a lot of air movement, and a warm dry environment contributes to dehydration too. It should be happier in its new window, but I would keep it out of all direct sun until it shows some new leaf growth.

How often do you water? And how do you determine when to water? It looks like a very coarse bark mix. It might be happier in something that retains moisture longer.

[estación seca]

It looks very underwatered, and Phal seedlings should not get any direct California sun.

Sun and heat greatly increase water requirement. If you have low relative humidity that increases water requirement even more. You can probably flower Phals anywhere in California with no sun whatsoever, just bright shade. Save your sunny windowsills for other orchids.

I am guessing it is in a 3.25" / 8.25cm pot. The bark looks to be very large. Unless you live in a cold, misty part of California, I suspect you could water this every other day during warm weather and it would be much happier. Perhaps every day.

[j_orchids]

Thanks folks.

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

How often do you water? And how do you determine when to water? It looks like a very coarse bark mix. It might be happier in something that retains moisture longer.

I spray the aerial roots pretty much every day, with enough water or dilute fertilizer that some trickles down and out the bottom of the pot. I rarely give it a soak

Originally Posted by estación seca

I am guessing it is in a 3.25" / 8.25cm pot. The bark looks to be very large. Unless you live in a cold, misty part of California, I suspect you could water this every other day during warm weather and it would be much happier. Perhaps every day.

The plant has been relocated to a large northeast-facing office window in a highrise building in Oakland. It rarely get a tiny bit of direct sun in the mornings that aren't fogged in.

no matter how I water, the sun/heat damaged leaf doesn't recover - the slightly smaller leaf has always looked healthy. I'm worried that I might have a tendency to over-water my plants, but if you think that retaining more moisture for this plant would be beneficial, how should I go about this? The vast majority of the root growth seems to be in these aerial/top roots. Should I weave some sphagnum in among them to retain moisture. As I said, I spray them every day, but they dry quickly.

Also, I have read that this species likes higher light and dryer conditions than many other Phals. Is this not true?

~ Jon

[PaphMadMan]

Regardless of what conditions it needs in theory, this plant is definitely dehydrated, and heat/light stress contribute to that. The position you describe now should be fine for light. Once it is healthy and growing you can consider gradually adapting it to more light.

The damage will not recover, and the wilted appearance won't recover completely. A Phal needs a good soaking, then allow it to nearly dry out before watering. You can continue the surface spray too.

Try changing watering habits first before considering changes in the media unless it is overdue for repotting anyway. If the bark is still good it is probably better to work on getting it growing and healthy and plan on repotting next spring.

[estación seca]

When you water, pour water completely through the pot so everything is soaked. What is the ambient temperature? Low 70s F is tolerated by healthy Phals but is lower than they prefer. They don't grow very fast at typical office temperatures.

[j_orchids]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

The damage will not recover, and the wilted appearance won't recover completely. A Phal needs a good soaking, then allow it to nearly dry out before watering. You can continue the surface spray too.

Try changing watering habits first before considering changes in the media unless it is overdue for repotting anyway. If the bark is still good it is probably better to work on getting it growing and healthy and plan on repotting next spring.

Thank you. Yes, my plan was to repot once it was growing healthy. I'll try to do more frequent soakings and not add any additional water-retentive material.

Originally Posted by estación seca

When you water, pour water completely through the pot so everything is soaked. What is the ambient temperature? Low 70s F is tolerated by healthy Phals but is lower than they prefer. They don't grow very fast at typical office temperatures.

Thank you. I know the temperature is not ideal, but I could no longer care for my orchids at home now that I have this new job in another town and often don't even go home in the evenings anyway. The office temps will have to suffice. Perhaps I can get a thermometer for the office, but I have a hybrid Phal sitting right next to it that grew an entire mature leaf in just a few weeks and now has another new one poking out. Though I realize this is not the same as a hybrid and may be more particular about its growing conditions.

~ Jon

[jkofferdahl]

Phal schilleriana is a fairly robust species, and one of the easier Phal species to grow. However, you still need to give it a chance. I doubt the light level is an issue for your plant but I think you have both a temperature and a humidity problem.

P schilleriana grows is a very hot and moist atmosphere. The temperature you have of 72 is fine as a night temperature, but during the day it would prefer another 10 degrees or more. With a lower temperature you're going to slow growth, as is happening with your plant. However, the bigger issue you have is humidity. In an environmentally controlled office space the humidity usually is about 20-25%. Schilleriana is much happier with 60-65%. The low humidity level is literally sucking moisture from your plant. Daily watering would make a huge difference, though you'll not get good aereal roots.

Essentially, you're growing your orchid in conditions which are way less than ideal. Compensating with more water will help, but won't be ideal, especially given both the temperature AND humidity levels. You may have some success growing it where and how you are but I suspect that you're going to have a lot more trouble than good growing unless you move it to a more appropriate site.

[Manu]

I was gonna say exactly that. I've tried bringing a few orchids at the office but low humidity and low stable temps from the controlled environment really hurt all of them.. you might be able to grow it, but it will never strive the way it could.

[j_orchids]

Thanks, folks. I appreciate that I have less than ideal growing conditions, but as I tried to communicate, I don't have any other options since I am at home so infrequently. The office environment will have to do for now. Most of my plants seem to be growing and flowering well here, and are developing healthy aerial roots, though they are mostly hybrids and have only been here a couple months.

I will give the P. Schilleriana more frequent deep soakings, like I have done today, and I will hope for the best.

I have a small growing area at home too, that has more variable temps (especially seasonally), but is basically just a large windowsill. How would you recommend increasing humidity in an open environment like that (without also reducing air circulation)? I've read that the "tray of wet rocks" solution really adds no humidity. Also, I may only be able to tend to the orchids there once every two or three days.

~ Jon

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

Daily watering would make a huge difference, though you'll not get good aereal roots.

Essentially, you're growing your orchid in conditions which are way less than ideal. Compensating with more water will help, but won't be ideal, especially given both the temperature AND humidity levels. You may have some success growing it where and how you are but I suspect that you're going to have a lot more trouble than good growing unless you move it to a more appropriate site.

Originally Posted by Manu

I was gonna say exactly that. I've tried bringing a few orchids at the office but low humidity and low stable temps from the controlled environment really hurt all of them.. you might be able to grow it, but it will never strive the way it could.