Phal Drama- the continuing saga...

Fitzdiva · #1 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 11:35 PM

I posted on my phal here once before and all of you were so helpful- so here's one more.
First- I moved it to a sunnier area about 2 months back. It was doing ok- last bloom opened- then all the flowers began to whither and fell off. I was going to clip it beneath the last bloom's node (as I read) but I noticed some growth from the very tip so I left it alone for now.
Now i notice we've got a new leaf - just came up-that is completely yellow and another new one that's green. The stem has a little bit of black speckle but I can't tell if this is abnormal or just the coloring.
Finally- i've been watering about 2Xs a week since it's so dry here- it seems completely dried out by the time I water it. I also use a bit of orchid fertilizer once a week.
So- ok, is all this normal, or is the plant sick? I appreciate any help!

mayres · #2 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 12:23 AM

Can you update your location - it helps to know what your environment is like to others who may have advice.
Sometimes after bloom the primary spike will continue to grow and produce a few flowers on the tip instead of growing a new subspike on the side of the spike. Some varieties of phals continue to grow the tip out a few flowers at a time over a period of months and months. I have a phal that does this. Most of my hybrid phals that have but a few flowers still hanging on this time of year - I remove the entire spike down to the base - so that the plant will concentrate its energy in building up the strength of the plant for the next spike coming this winter.
The normal growth cycle of most phals is to loose a bottom leaf or two and then to grow replacements and maybe an additional during the growing season. So, it sounds like yours is doing what it should be doing.
Watering weakly weekly with fertilizer is a routine that any on the forum use. Especially during the growing season it is important to give you phals plenty of food - it can dramatically affect the size of the new leaves. I like to run plenty of water through my plants every few weeks too - to make certain that I'm not getting any buildup of unwanted minerals or salts in the media that could be injurious to the plants.
Hard (at least for me) to say anything about the "speckle" stem without seeing it.
In general, from what you have said, it sounds like your plant is progressing normally.
mike

kmarch · #3 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitzdiva

I was going to clip it beneath the last bloom's node (as I read) but I noticed some growth from the very tip so I left it alone for now.

Just for clarification, it is the node where the new spike or growth comes from so that should be left on the plant. If one wants to cut the spent spike to induce reblooming or perhaps a keiki, they should do so above the node rather than beneath it.

Fitzdiva · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2007, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the advice= we are in Southern California, and yeah, the plant is looking really healthy. I think I will clip it to the base so it can get ready for winter- the growth at the tip is minimal. Thanks again!

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