Repot --> Wilting --> :(

[phalophyte]

I repotted my Phal a few weeks ago and may have waited too long to water - 2 weeks. During the repot I managed to knock off one of the newer flowers and a bud on one of the offshoots. I put cinnamon on those areas.

The oldest flowers are wilting - it may just be their time, but I'm not so sure since everyone says Phals bloom for awhile. And not all the flowers were open when I got it, but they did all open. The leaves are wilting too - didn't realize how much until I looked at the pics I took after I got it. There was also a light fluffy mold on the skewer today but medium seemed dry.

Do I just let the flowers fall off on their own? I'm also wondering about the 2 offshoots - should they be cut? Maybe better watering habits and some fertilizer will help the wilting??


Lori

[phalophyte]

Forgot pics - couldn't bear to take one of the leaves

[Ochin@]

it looks like a lack of water to me, what type of medium did you pot it in? if it is bark, did you soak it at least 24hours before potting it up?

[phalophyte]

I used Better Gro Special Orchid Mix. Most of the medium (75%) soaked for a little over 24 hrs but the pot I was going to use was too small - so I had to get a bigger one and hadn't set aside enough media. I soaked the rest for about 6 hours. I watered again today (1 week after first watering).

[orchidlover55]

I agree with Ochin, I have had that to happen to me. It was not watering enough. Your not suppose to let it completely dry out when it is in bloom. Also Natalie mentioned soaking it 24 hours before repotting. If you didn't do that then that would be a reason for the wilting also.But two weeks is a long time to go without watering a phal that is in bloom.

[mehitabel]

Never fertilize a stressed-out plant. Fertilizer gives a healthy plant the building blocks for photosynthesis. It just adds to the problems of a declining plant.

Phals should be kept evenly moist. Letting them dry out kills the root tips.

[Dendian]

I think you are right about waiting too long to water it, I never withhold water from my phals (not even after repotting them).

The leaves get wilted when they don't get enough water. Since you repotted it, hopefully you had lots of good roots so it can get whatever water you give it. I think if you changed media from the (probable) moss to a drier media, then you will want to check if they need water more often. Phals like to stay damp (but not soaking). They complain bitterly if they are allowed to dry to a crispy (wilting leaves and dropped flowers are one way of complaining).

About the blooms falling off too early, it could be the underwatering, but it could also be lots of other things, like the change in temperatures/humidity etc from where you bought the plant and where you are keeping it now.

I would soak it first, and then water it when it needs it and make sure it doesn't dry out all the way. I would also keep an eye on those leaves, if they don't plump back up quickly then you may need to look at the roots again.

If the roots are bad, then you will want to remove those flower shoots at the base. Flowering takes a lot out of the plant, and if it's not healthy then you want to take that stress away and let it recover.

Best of luck.

P.S. as per usual, I was typing a novel and 5 other people answered... glad to see they all agree with me...

[phalophyte]

Thanks everyone! I was worried about over watering. It has been very dry out here and is about to get worse. Is it a problem that there was some white, fluffy mold on the skewer?

[phalophyte]

If most of the roots are ok could I just cut off the bad ones? And then do I use the medium that I put in a few weeks ago or do I have to change it out?

If most of the roots are bad then cut all 3 shoots?

Sorry guys

[Dendian]

Get rid of the white fluffy mold by either soaking the skewer in bleach water and rinsing off (or get a new skewer and see if it does the same thing).

I would cut off all the bad roots you find. If they are all bad, then leave the best looking ones (but only if they are plump - remove all mushy ones). You can put it back in the same media (if that is what you are comfortable with) but check daily for dampness and water when it is almost dry (not after it gets dry).

If there are no good roots, time to bag the leaves when the plant is in the pot (as mehitabel says alot) - put one bag over each set of leaves, to keep up the humidity until the roots can grow back. And if there are no good leaves, then definately take off the flower stems at the base. You can put them in a vase and enjoy them for awhile.

[mehitabel]

LOL, Dendian. I wasn't sure anyone was listening

[koshki]

Phalophyte, I'm also a newbie, and have had difficulty keeping the barkier mixes sufficiently hydrated (I tried the same one you're using). However, I can personally attest to the wonders of Mike's Miracle Medium, which I found on this thread

Phal Repotting & Media

The healthy phals love it and the invalid is coming along so nicely that even the oldest wrinkly leaf is starting to fill out.

And welcome!

[Dendian]

mehitabel, I always read your posts in their entireity, how do you think I have managed to keep my plants alive?
THANK YOU!

[orchidlover55]

Me too , Dian, mehitabel has so much knowledge, I always read all her post and threads.

[phalophyte]

Thanks everyone! Will try watering more frequently - hopefully everything will perk up. Thanks for the link koshki.
Lori