New phal - diagnosis please

[reen]

Hi all

Got a new phal yesterday, and though I know you shouldn't get one with damaged leaves or buds, I couldn't resist since this was the only one left with that particular colouring. I did check the roots and they looked nice & green and the flowers were also in good shape.

So my questions are:

1) Small bud picture - will the damage prevent the bud from blooming?
2) Larger bud picture - same deal, though I think (unless I am imagining things) it has started to open up so am not too worried.
3) Leaf one & two pictures - these are both of the same leaf, which basically has this "tear". Is this something serious? Should I cut that portion of the leaf off?

As you can see, some of the aerial roots have died and the plant seems to be quite shaky in the pot. I really want to repot and clean everything up. But had issues transporting this all the way home last night so I really don't want to stress this new phal anymore than I have to. Should I repot or do you think it is safe to leave it until all the flowers drop?

Thanks in advance.

[Ak_Orchid]

It looks like one of the buds is opening, and the smaller one still looks like it's going to bloom. Other people might have a different opinion, but I would leave the leaf like it is. I would definitely wait to re-pot it untill after it's done blooming.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by reen

1) Small bud picture - will the damage prevent the bud from blooming?

I think the bud will probably open but if it does the flower will probably be marked. It probably won't open as nicely and fully as the other flowers.

Originally Posted by reen

2) Larger bud picture - same deal, though I think (unless I am imagining things) it has started to open up so am not too worried.

Same for this. If it's started to open it will probably finish, just not be a perfect flower.

Originally Posted by reen

3) Leaf one & two pictures - these are both of the same leaf, which basically has this "tear". Is this something serious? Should I cut that portion of the leaf off?

As a general rule I don't cut anything off an orchid unless it is diseased or unquestionably dead. As this torn leaf looks tobe neither at this point I actually believe I would leave it for now. I have had split and torn leaves on a Phal. One of the torn leaves (torn when I dropped the plant) lived on for almost 2 years before the torn part finally yellowed and died at which point I removed it.

It looks like the plant may be a little dried out. When it finishes blooming, I think I'd repot it into a nice clean fresh mix that will keep it gently moist (see the Phal culture sheets).

[reen]

Great, thanks for your responses Ak_Orchid & kmarch. I will leave it for now and repot once blooming stops.

Cheers

[janet_a]

3) Leaf one & two pictures - these are both of the same leaf, which basically has this "tear". Is this something serious? Should I cut that portion of the leaf off?

i dropped a hilo lip on its head a couple years ago; tore half one leaf. it's still there, still green, plant has grown new leaves.


what kmarch said.

[reen]

Thanks again for all your replies . Since I only started on orchids less than 4 weeks ago, I don't really know what is normal and what isn't. But with your responses, I now feel better.

Incidentally, the larger bud fully opened the next day (see photo)!