Phalaenopsis Help

[Shooter]

Okay so before we left our beloved upstate New York home, we wanted to purchase something that will live a long time to remind us of the place, so we chose a stunningly beautiful orchid.

It was a stunning pink and white flowered orchid, with three shoots, and multiple branches. I babied it for months before we moved and the blooms stayed firm and happy. We then drove cross country and I took the plant with me in the car, so I could take good care of it on the road. I lost some flowers, but mostly it held together.

Well after a week long drive, though the flowers held on, they were wilty, and in my uninformed opinion I thought it would be a good idea to just cut the shoots, so that the plant could concentrate on being healthy. When I cut there were still many flowers on it. I don't know if that was a good move or not.

Fast forward 6 months, and the plant has yet to even hint at putting out a shoot...is this normal? I repotted it into a small bark mixture, and for the most part it seems to be doing good...but all it does is put out a new leaf, yellow an old leaf, which later falls off, over and over.

No shoots, and just constant leaf replacement. What can I do? Is this a normal amount of time to go flowerless?

[11Orchid126]

Phals can bloom at different times of the year, because it's inherent in the plant or the grower has forced it into bloom out of season. Mostly, (there are always exceptions) they only bloom once a year, even though the blooms can last for weeks and weeks. It sounds like you did the right thing. The next factor to consider is light. Phals need as bright light (not sun) as you can give them without burning the leaves. What are you fertilizing the phal with? High nitrogen will produce leaves, low nitrogen might prompt blooms.

If the phal follows true to most of its kind, it may not flower again until late fall or early spring. That is, if it gets a bit of a cool down at night for a couple of weeks, and adequate light, water and fertilizer the rest of the time.

Welcome to the world of orchids!

[katrina]

It sounds like everything is normal. Since you say the plant was in flower for a couple/few months...chances are it was near the end of the flowering and it was a coincidence that your cross country trip occurred at the same time.

Many of the larger hybrid phals bloom only once a year. If you're getting new leaves...the existing leaves look good...and the roots appear healthy...it sounds like you have a perfectly happy plant. Keep doing whatever it is that you're doing.

HA! Looks like 11orchid126 and I were posting at the same time.

[Shooter]

Thanks for the quick reply!

Anyway, I tried putting it closer to the window, but as I'm sure you know, the leaves started showing signs of too much light, so I backed it off again. Are you saying light in general (even light bulb) is sufficient as an extra light source?

I forget the type of fertilizer I'm using exactly but I got it at home depot, and it was labeled "Orchid Food/Fertilizer" or something like that, don't know the numbers off the top of my head.

Any idea what this constant cycle of new leaf, dead leaf is about? Is it a sign something is wrong with the plant, or is it normal?

All in all I just want a healthy plant..i dont NEED the bloom, just don't know what qualifies as normal, so not seeing flowers this long I thought there might be something wrong.

[-k-]

How many leaves does it currently have and how often are leaves dying? It's common for older leaves (lower leaves) to eventually yellow and die off, however if the leaves are rapidly dying off it could be another issue. Based on everything you have written thus far I presume all is most likely well with your plant though would like to know about the leaf issue more to confirm.

[kmarch]

People seem to be assuming it is a phalaenopsis but I don't find where Shooter says that. What kind of orchid is it Shooter? If you don't know you can post a picture of it and we'll be able to tell you.

6 months is not a long time for an orchid to go without flowering. Many orchids flower only once a year. If we know what kind of orchid you have we can give you a better idea of when it might flower again.

[Filb]

Psst kmarch, it is in the title.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Filb

Psst kmarch, it is in the title.

(at self)
Ok...wow...that was a senior moment times 10. No saving face from that one. Feel free ot ignore everything I've posted in this thread up to this point.

[Shooter]

ROFL it's okay, I'll allow it this time.

Anyway, currently there are 4 leaves. At most there has been 6, but not for long. The most I've seen stay on regularly at one time is 5, but the usual is 4. For the past 6 months it's been 4 leaves. A new one will grow in, and by the time it gets to half the length of the leaf below it, one of the bottom older leaves will yellow and die/fall off. Then a couple months later, again, a new leaf will sprout, get to half the size of the leaf below it, then a leaf from the bottom will yellow and die off.

So..is this normal?

[tangers40]

Originally Posted by Shooter

ROFL it's okay, I'll allow it this time.

Anyway, currently there are 4 leaves. At most there has been 6, but not for long. The most I've seen stay on regularly at one time is 5, but the usual is 4. For the past 6 months it's been 4 leaves. A new one will grow in, and by the time it gets to half the length of the leaf below it, one of the bottom older leaves will yellow and die/fall off. Then a couple months later, again, a new leaf will sprout, get to half the size of the leaf below it, then a leaf from the bottom will yellow and die off.

So..is this normal?

it may very well be normal for this plant. i have one phal, a very reliable twice-a-year bloomer, that never seems to keep more than 3 or 4 leaves on it. it will do like yours and grow a new one, then yellow and drop its oldest. but i also have another, the very first orchid i ever owned, that has NEVER dropped a leaf in the 2 and a half years i've had it. in other words, they can be highly variable in this regard.

if your plant appears healthy (nice strong firm roots, rigid leaves, etc), then i wouldn't worry about it's leaf grow-drop cycle.

[Ladyofthelakes]

I agree with above advice. My Phals usually drop a leaf now and then. I will say though, as of lately I have been really babying them. Kept on strict watering schedule, the leaves have not dropped and the bottom ones have not shriveled. Course not saying they won't start tomorrow.

I just posted on my two Phals tonight Phals In Spike

[Shooter]

Thanks guys. I'm just really sentimental about this plant, because I want it to live, since it's a constant reminder of our old home. Maybe it'll just bloom when it's ready. I really appreciate the help.