My Phal Valentine's Gift is sickly

[caseydoll]

I'm so sorry about your phal!!! You would think if the roots were healthy when you repotted they wouldn't of rotted like that. How strange! Maybe the place where your husband got it will have another one just like it. Did it have a tag? Maybe you can find the same one and pretend it never happened. I know how heartbreaking it can be when something like that happens to a special orchid. I had a similar thing happen to me with a phal my boyfriend gave me awhile back. I know how it feels!

[kiki-do]

Thank you Sarah, you're very kind. It was a
P. Yukidian x P. Cygnus. I doubt if they will have the same one, but I will find that type again in my travels, for sure. The AOS magazine (this months) had a picture of a Yukidian that was absolutely spectacular.
She gave me a great deal of pleasure to behold, for that I am grateful.

[Bird Song Farm]

So sorry Kiki-do, I've lost a special plant or two myself. I really don't think it's anything you did or didn't do.
One thing I've noticed about Maine and orchids. They ALL come from one of two places..be it HD or the nursery where your husband got this plant.

Al

[priz_m]

I am very sorry to hear that kiki. I too lost my valentine phal (sogo beach) and haven't managed to get a replacement (I will keep looking though ) but we live and learn, we've all been there.... :

[quiltergal]

Sorry Kiki! What a bummer! I recently received 3 Phals from a highly recommended vendor. The day they arrived I watered and noticed "dirt" coming out of the bottom of the pots. I new I was in trouble. Went out and mixed up a batch of CHC and repotted ASAP. I never would have guessed at their condtion because there was a very nice top dressing of new bark on each plant. When I pulled them out of their pots all three had fairly advanced root rot. In the pot centers were old wads of rotting sphag. Two of them were in spike. Two of the three have recovered nicely, but the largest one isn't out of the woods yet. When I emailed the vendor about it they said "Thanks for the info. Enjoy your plants."

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by caseydoll

I wanted to bump this back up to the top to see if any one else has any suggestions. I'm really interested in finding out what could be wrong. I think that Gloria is right on. I think phals sometime bloom so long that even with a good root system they still poop out.

No one has suggested this yet and I definitely am no expert so I'm not sure you should take my advice! But I would cut those spike right off as far as you can take them. If it has used up too much energy and is shedding leaves as a result putting out buds won't help it any. It seems to me that some of my phals absolutely refuse to put out any new leaves or roots until they stop blooming. Maybe yours is like that and just needs a rest to focus on the leaves. Just a thought and it's really just a guess on my part. Please keep us updated!

That's so sad. I agree with Sarah. My rescued Phals blessed me with a long blooming season this year. Some of the bottom leaves looking a little dehydrated and began yellowing so I repotted all of them while still in bloom but towards the end. During potting I snipped a few of the older spikes on a few of the plants all the way off and those plants made a rapid recovery. The plants with spikes remaining started looking even more stressed so I removed their spikes too. This worked like magic. Within days the base leaves rehydrated and all of the plants began displaying new growth. Next year I will cut the spikes all the way down a week or two before it's time to repot even if the blooms are still pretty. It seems to spare the plant when this is done. Oh yeah, there was one Phal I had mounted on cork and placed in a tree. It was blooming at the time and I forgot to cut the spike. It promtly began to rebloom from the same spike but the new leaf growth is stunted and there were only a few blooms produced. I'm cutting that spike off today.

[InspirChid1712]

I would try three things: increase the duration of light exposure, keep it very humid but fairly dry at the roots, and keep it very warm warm. The increased duration of light exposure may prompt it to spark some life, but it does look like one that may be lost. I'd also cut off any active spikes, they will only continue to sap its energy. One technique I might try would be to put it in a very sunny window with a white plastic grocery bag gently resting above the plant. This will give alot of bright diffused light and hold in heat and humidity. Don't seal the bag around the plant though... it still needs to be in open air. I hope it survives... I have rescued one phal that was at that point a few weeks after falling from a third story window, there may be hope! If not, know when it is time to toss it so you can promptly acquire two new plants to fill the void! best of luck!