Phal with floppy, shriveled leaves...again

[The Mutant]

Geez, what is it with me and mini Phals with floppy leaves! I'm watering them to death apparently!

So, a second of the mini Phals I purchased for about two months ago has been afflicted with the "floppy leaf syndrome". While the first one I had problems with (it had practically no roots) seems to be on the road to recovery (it was anyway, until Pelle pulled it down, twice - it's rather mangled at the moment so I hope it'll put out a new leaf as it has with done with a root), the one that has been in the best shape since I got them, has started to have floppy and shriveled leaves.

Since I figured that it's probably caused by too frequent watering, I checked the roots but didn't really find anything that should cause such a depressed appearance, it has a fine root system. I also checked the stem in case of stem rot but came up with nothing, and it's the same with the leaves.

I re-potted it in a bark and perlite mix instead of bark/sphagnum/perlite that I usually plant my chids in, this to hopefully increase the air flow around the roots.

My question is, should I cut the spike? The spike is the only thing growing on this Phal at the moment, and since the rest of the plant is struggling for some reason (probably a watering-happy owner) I want it to re-direct its efforts elsewhere.

Here are some pictures. The tiny leaf is no new growth, it has had that one since I bought it and I don't think it has grown one millimeter since.

The leaf on the last picture does look dehydrated. It happens ocassionally to my newly purchased phals that were shipped dried out and spent over a week in transit.
Usually the top leaves perk up after couple weeks of regular watering, but bottom ones sometimes just die.
If your watering is regular and roots are healthy maybe increasing humidity around the leaves would help some. I would try maybe slight misting (without getting water into the crown).
Good luck, I hope it recovers. Such beautiful flowers.

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[The Mutant]

It wasn't shipped to me, I bought it at a local vendor. The leaves were firm at first, but have started to sag more and more. Maybe it wants to have a bit higher humidity... I haven't even thought of that.

Also maybe check the location to make sure nothing blows dry air at it. I have lost several small catt seedlings shrivelling and drying out this winter because they were in proximity to the heating vent and I had no idea that hot air was blowing with such angle that would get right onto those seedlings.

[Becky15349]

floppy leaved on phal indicates water issues..which you already know. water only when they need it. i water mine once a week and they are in a south window with good air movement. Cut back on your watering...water less frequently, and less water, until you see new vegetative growth. when you do water, always use fert at 1/2 strength...this will give them the "shot in the arm" they nees to recover. also, keep the light medium (east window, morning light, along those lines) and keep the air moving with fans. Finally, dont tinker with them. maybe you should buy a few new plants so you focus less on these phals good luck!

[camille1585]

Are you sure that you didn't err to the other extreme, and underwatered?

Originally Posted by Becky15349

Finally, dont tinker with them. maybe you should buy a few new plants so you focus less on these phals good luck!

Becky, you have missed a bunch of threads. Believe me, that's what she's doing! There are new ones arriving by the boxful every day!

[silken]

If it was recently moved from wet moss (as my new purchases always are) to just the bark mix, it may just be struggling with the transition. Moss is a lot more wet and dense compared to bark so it needs to adjust. I would lightly mist the leaves every day. Of course not letting water sit in the crown. Quite a few of my almost dead Phals have made it thru that way.

The leaf won't likely grow much until the flowers are done. No need to cut the spike yet in my opinion.

[The Mutant]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Are you sure that you didn't err to the other extreme, and underwatered?



Becky, you have missed a bunch of threads. Believe me, that's what she's doing! There are new ones arriving by the boxful every day!

It's not impossible... *sighs* I really don't like small pots, give me a Phal in a small pot and I'll screw something up it seems.

Originally Posted by silken

If it was recently moved from wet moss (as my new purchases always are) to just the bark mix, it may just be struggling with the transition. Moss is a lot more wet and dense compared to bark so it needs to adjust. I would lightly mist the leaves every day. Of course not letting water sit in the crown. Quite a few of my almost dead Phals have made it thru that way.

The leaf won't likely grow much until the flowers are done. No need to cut the spike yet in my opinion.

When I first got it (two months ago) it was in moss, then I moved it to my bark/sphagnum/perlite mix in which it has been planted for over a month. I put it in a bark/perlite mix after checking the roots in case its floppyness is due to my over-enthusiastic watering. I'll wait and watch for now and see how it does before maybe cutting the spike.

[dounoharm]

a lot of times those beautiful plants we see in the box stores are one step to frying....they have been boxed shipped handled by dummies, and doubtless either under or overwatered....all this before they come to our loving care....so probly its not so much what you have done to it as to what has been done to it....give it time, let it live a bit on the dry side, and hopefully it will recover....one other bit of advise, when in horticulture school i was taught never to fert a plant under stress.....i have found that advise to be useful....just my opinion....

[silken]

Originally Posted by The Mutant

It's not impossible... *sighs* I really don't like small pots, give me a Phal in a small pot and I'll screw something up it seems.


When I first got it (two months ago) it was in moss, then I moved it to my bark/sphagnum/perlite mix in which it has been planted for over a month. I put it in a bark/perlite mix after checking the roots in case its floppyness is due to my over-enthusiastic watering. I'll wait and watch for now and see how it does before maybe cutting the spike.

It's possibly not liking the multiple re-pots. I know Phals are pretty good for being re-potted in bloom and whatnot but maybe twice in a few months was more than it wanted. If there are any surface roots you could mist those to help it get some moisture while it settles in.