Snapped Phal. leaf

[pikevi]

Hi,

I accidentally damaged a new leaf while spraying the orchids. Though it is a clean break across the width of the leaf I am wondering if I should apply anything to the exposed edge.

Also I wonder if the leaf will grow to be normal size (minus the tip)?

I attach a pix.

Thanks

[dennis]

cinnamon on the break dont know on the other

[Anton]

A valuable lesson to be learnt here...............


We WON'T do THAT again, will we ????????

[Vivienne]

how does the cinnamon work? what form? what does it do exactly?

[Ellen]

The cinnamon acts as an antifungal agent and helps the plant's cut edge scar over. Just apply cinnamon powder to the cut edge of the leaf, but don't get it on the roots. The leaf should grow normally, minus the tip. These things happen to all of us all the time, so don't worry about it.

[kmarch]

A while back I knocked my Phal off the windowsill and it fell almost a metre to the floor where one of its leaves split lengthwise about half way down then across the leaf to the edge. Because many of the leaf veins were still intact, I left it. The edged dried out and got hard and the almost-severed part of the leaf remained fresh and i presume produced energy for the plant for about a year. Just recently it started to yellow and so I carefully cut off the damaged part leaving the rest of the leaf. Since the leaf was broken the plant has bloomed twice and grown a full new leaf. It would seem the plant didn't so much as skip a beat. I suspect yours will do the same.

cheers,

-Kevin

[pikevi]

Thank you everyone.

I almost had a panic attack when I realised what I had done. My heart was pounding and my earlobes were hot and even had loboured breathing

Yes Anton , a valuable lesson but it has made me more nervous now. I think it is getting crowded and I become a contortionist when I spray the orchids .

And it has dampened my enthusiasm for purchasing more plants this weekend. I need more SPACE!!!!

Ellen , Thank you for suggestiing the powder. Used the coffee grinder to powder the cinnamon. I was actually planning to get cinnamon extract today.

Just curious: could applying vaseline to the edge would have helped too?

Thanks for the encouragement Kevin.

[janet_a]

i'd skip the vaseline or anything like it; might retain too much moisture and cause fungus.

somewhere on here is a thread about dropping plants on their heads--amazing what kind of abuse they'll tolerate.