An Update -- And A Confession

[c.lew122]

Hello All!

A few weeks ago I posted on here for advice on what to do with my Phal my husband bought me for our anniversary.
Thanks to all your helpful advice, I repotted my Phal and just wanted to show you guys my Phal since the repot. I feel so proud everytime I see the Phal in full bloom. In fact, I felt so happy about keeping it alive, that I couldn't resist getting another one.

I was in Home Depot a few weeks ago and fell in love with this flower but didn't get it because I wasn't sure how the Purple phal would take the repot. Now that I know I am capable of at least repotting and maintaining an Orchid for at least a month, I decided to take a shot and went back to see if they still had it. They did! One of the visible issues that I could see was that one of the flowers is wilted and drooping. I'm not sure what would cause that. The other flowers seems fine and one of the buds is even about to bloom. Is it possible that the sad flower could come back with some TLC? Or should I just let it fall. (If that is what it will do). What could be the cause?
I also noticed that one of the bottom leaves is yellowing. Since the bottom two leaves on my first Phal yellowed and dropped, I'm not too concerned about it. The only thing that concerns me about it is, in the last picures you can see that there and 4 leaves on one side and only 2 on the other. Since it's somewhat off balance, the 2 lower leaves of the 4 side are a bit further down into the media than the others are. I am afraid that they will not be able to dry out properly. Any advice?
I noticed many of the roots were rotted and had to cut them off. I dipped the remaining roots in a diluted Peroxide mix and repotted in a smaller container. Try as I might, I could not get those aerial roots in the mix, so I gave up on those. The roots didn't quite reach the bottom, so I added some large river rocks to the bottom. They have really helped stabalize the plant as well.

Well, What do you all think?

[orchidaddict789]

Hello! Good job on your first phal! Both phals are very pretty!

I've had phal flowers wilt prematurely for no reason--other than the fact that it changed environments. I've noticed that phal flowers don't do well if they stay in the store for too long. Another reason is that it simply may be too "tired" after suffering some root rot. But don't worry too much about the roots; there are enough to support the plant. It's ok if aerial roots aren't in the mix. Just spray them in the mornings if needed.

Also just make sure the lowest leaves are above the surface of the mix (and don't let bark pieces get in between the leaf and the stem). If the plant is wobbly you can tie it with a stake or a wire. Good luck!

[mytwogirls]

I think the container you have it in may be a bit too big for the orchid (meaning you have overpotted.) You did a good job "cleaning" it up and don't worry about the flower. The flower loss could be due to environment changes or stress because of the root condition. Good luck!

[syndywindy]

Your phal's look great. I think you did a nice job repotting. I think you did the right thing with your new phal. If you didn't have a smaller pot for it, using the river rock is ok. As far as the sad flower, it might just be since it was the first to bloom, its time to wither away had come. But it looks like the other blooms/buds should be ok.

[CindyLouWho]

I just did a rescue on yet another poorly cared for Home Depot Orchid and lost a couple of blooms (they were fine and then wilty the next day)and also had one bud blast but the remaining flowers look like they will be fine...one just opened today and the other is looking like it will open tomorrow. Like yours, the roots were in poor condition...I think it was the stress of going from sopping wet moss to bark. At least I knew to pre-soak the mix this time Too bad I accidentally snapped the other flower spike

Also, I repotted a couple of others from moss to bark last week and on one the leaves are kind of wilty now...the roots on that one were also in very poor condition. I think as some of the others have suggested it is due to the shock in change of environment BUT it is a necessary shock if they are to survive...can't leave them in that tightlyly packed and over watered moss!

Cindy

[davetheorchidaddict]

Nice looking plant that you saved. TLC is what it needs and it will do what it wants anyway, with all the new root growth it does not look like it is ready to wither up and die. Repot in a more Phal friendly medium or as I would do mount it with some coconut fiber. What ever you do have fun and enjoy watching it grow.

[katrina]

Looks great! Congrats!

Oh, and, I agree w/Synda on the pot size...since you added the river rock to the bottom it should do just fine for you. Good job!

[c.lew122]

Thanks for the reassurance guys! I still get nervous after the repot, anxiously waiting to see how the plant reacts. *crossing fingers*

Do you guys think I should cut that wilted flower off, so the plant doesn't attempt to spend any excess energy on it? Or would it make too little of a difference to even bother with it and just let it go on its own.

[mehitabel]

Originally Posted by c.lew122

Do you guys think I should cut that wilted flower off, so the plant doesn't attempt to spend any excess energy on it? Or would it make too little of a difference to even bother with it and just let it go on its own.

I don't think the plant spends any energy on a wilted flower. Usually it wilts because the plant withdraws support from it. A wilted flower doesn't rehydrate. Sometimes if it's a premature wilt but not shriveled yet, you can rehydrate it by cutting it off and floating it completely in water. Otherwise, no.

From your pictures, it looked to me like the lip on the wilted flowers was bent up. The bent-up lip is a clear sign that the flower is finished, one for. If you look carefully at a fresh flower and the wilted flower, you will see the difference in the way the lip is-- unbent on the fresh flower, bent up on the wilted one.

I cut off dead flowers on the theory that they give off chemicals that prematurely age the remaining flowers. (Looks better, too). However, I couldn't guarantee that theory is correct. Just that once that lip gets bent up it isn't going to revive .

[tangers40]

Originally Posted by c.lew122

A few weeks ago I posted on here for advice on what to do with my Phal my husband bought me for our anniversary.
Thanks to all your helpful advice, I repotted my Phal and just wanted to show you guys my Phal since the repot. I feel so proud everytime I see the Phal in full bloom. In fact, I felt so happy about keeping it alive, that I couldn't resist getting another one.

yep, that's how the obsession starts! my first orchid was a gift as well. i swore up and down when i got it that i'd kill it within a week. knowing absolutely nothing about orchids, the silly thing bloomed for at least 6 months. i've now had it for a year and a half and it's currently blooming again. still haven't killed it! once i realized i wouldn't kill everything i touched, my collection rapidly started growing.....

i think you did a great job on the repot. my first few repots were pretty disasterous, so you're well on your way. and i LOVE the flowers on that second one....looks a lot like my harlequin. they're the best!

[maiseymoo]

the obsession has started LOL!! great job on the repot, I was so nervous when I repotted for he first time. I would get rid of the wilted flower as it just makes it look better overall.