no new growth on phal

[electric.chowder]

quick question, I got a phal back in april (my first orchid infact) and it had a flower spike but the flowers had all fallen off (discount plant!), and not knowing anything about them I left the spike on for prob. a month or so, until I cut it off, and put cinnamon on the cut. Since then I've gotten another, slightly smaller phal that came in the same condition as the first, I cut off the flower spike and it started growing a new leaf, but my first one hasn't had any new growth yet. The crown is slightly lighter in colour than the rest of the leaves, so hopefully it's not been stunted. I didn't repot when I got it, and it's down in some sphag moss, any thoughts, advice?

[tom499]

How are the leaves looking? If the leaves look health, a nice green colour, and are firm then it could just be resting.

Do you fertilise it?
What light is it getting?
A picture would be great

[electric.chowder]

it's been through a move or two, the leaves are firm, there are three of them, the biggest being about eight inches long, I feed it every fourth watering or so, I've been taking it outside during the days for a few hours in the shade, I'll get out there this afternoon and snap a pic of it

[mayres]

With every new phal I have gotten the first step is to depot and inspect the root system. More often than not a significant portion of them are rotten. The condition of what you don't see will directly affect what you do see - i.e. leaves and other lovelies. I think you are on to something - repot and see what you've got (in total). mike

[kmarch]

Sometimes Phals are not fast to grow new leaves. I have a big Phal that I have had for 2 years. In that time it has only grown one new leaf.

[mayres]

Another factor in phal leaf growth that I have found significant is temperature. The commercial greenhouses that are growing phals keep them in the 80-92 degree range for maximum growth. Obviously this is much warmer than most of us like. The summer months are the closest mine get to matching this and they indeed tend to get the majority of their yearly growth during the summer to early fall months. If you keep your phals in the typical winter home temp of 55 or so at night and 68 or so (for those of us trying to conserve energy) in the daytime they tend to go into a state of suspended animation (at least that is what it seems). No growth at all and no apparent negative affects either - they just sit there. I bumped my orchid area up to the mid 70's last winter and it made a significant difference. Assuming your roots are healthy yours will probably start some new leaves with the summer months soon unless you keep the area it is kept significantly air conditioned.