Help! Rescue phal still lagging after a year

[NewBloom]

I rescued a group of neglected NOID phals a year ago and there's one in particular that's not thriving compared to the rest. It's on the same care schedule as the other phals. I'm using Dyna-Gro Grow's 7-9-5.

1. It's put out few roots. (How often a month could I use KLN without causing harm?)

2. The two spikes it put out this winter had buds that didn't develop. I wasn't surprised because I didn't think this phal had enough stored resources to bloom.

3. About 6 weeks ago it put out a new leaf and 2 new roots but the progress is way behind 2 other phals that have are doing the same.

4. It has 1 old leaf that stubbornly remains soft and pliable.

What to do?

[quiltergal]

If it's putting out a new leaf and new roots now, I think it's decided to live. Keep doing what you're doing. Sometimes when they are in really tough shape they sulk for awhile before responding.

[tucker85]

I agree completely with Quiltergal. A new leaf and new roots are a sign that the plant is trying to rally. I'm especially impressed if I'm reading your post corectly that there is just one leaf on the plant. You must be doing a good job.

[Paul Mc]

I've been using KLN once a week on one of my phal keiki's that never developed roots. It's still alive, though I don't know how it's supporting itself as it's not attached to the mother (died an untimely death). Based on my limited experience, once a week isn't going to do harm with KLN, but I would defer to someone else's judgement based on experience.

[Ray]

K-L-N, used at a couple of drops per gallon, will not hurt a plant if used at every watering. It probably won't help more if used that often, either.

Don't forget that their use is to "turn on" root growth, so think of it like turning on a light. Pushing the switch up turns it on; pushing it up again and again doesn't make it any brighter!

[Paul Mc]

Interesting analogy Ray!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Keep growing it.

Next blooming season if it puts up spikes, remove them promptly. This should speed up the process a bit.

[Gage]

I agree with everything said so far. And as for the old leaf that remains pliable, once a leaf gets to a certain point of wrinkledness/moisture loss, it cannot completely plump back up. It may continue to live and photosynthesize, but the wrinkliness is there to stay for the life of the leaf. But that is good news for you because like our friends have said, you seem to be doing the right thing for them. Good luck to you!

[NewBloom]

Thank you all for the encouragement.

As I've watched the other phals improve over the year, it made me wonder what was up with the one in question. The new leaf looks like it's not going to grow past match box size. But I'm going to keep giving it love.

King of orchid growing, in general does spike growth and flowering take resources away from the orchid's root and leaf development?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by NewBloom

King of orchid growing, in general does spike growth and flowering take resources away from the orchid's root and leaf development?

While it doesn't always necessarily does so, when an orchid initiates an inflorescence and/or flowers and blooms, there is a fair probability of that process taking away resources used for developing roots and leaves. The probability increases when the plant is already in a weakened state or under stress.