phal looks like leather

[plantmut]

My phals roots are rotted and it only has 2 good roots left. The leaves look horrible like leather. They are very weak and bendable and have many wrinkles in them. I'm guessing it was over watered and isn't able to maintain moisture to the remaining leaves ( 4 total ) hence the leaves shrivaling. Am I right? What do I do now? I feel like its a lost cause.

Plantmut

[digitalgate]

can u update your profile. As different area have different advise.

[mayres]

It may be salvage-able if you are ready for a LONG recovery period. By long I'm talking YEARS (if I'm seeing this in my mind as you describe). Depending upon the culture provided my experience is a normal home environment care takes approximately two years to revive a phal in that condition. Unless you have strong emotional attachments to it my advice is to purchase another plant and lets walk through how to take care of it together BEFORE there are any issues.

[Hummer344]

I agree with Mayers. Plants like this take a VERY long time to recover to a blooming stage. If no attachements to the plant, throw and buy a new one.

[plantmut]

Thanx for the response. I have never posted on this forum before. My love is in the gardening outdoors.

I don't have any real attachments to it but I would like to know what I did wrong. I have had others do the same thing with a leaf but I've managed to save it before the problem got worse.

My guess as I said before is overwatering and killing roots leaving a plant with leaves to support without the roots to support them.

What do you guys think?

Plantmut

[11Orchid126]

You might consider the skewer method of watering. Get some shishkabob skewers from the grocery store, trim one down and keep it in the medium. The next time you think the plant needs water take it out and touch it to your lips, cheek, or the back of your hand. If it's wet, don't water. If it's nearly dry, water. How wet or dry the skewer is before the plant needs water will depend on what type of orchid it is. Phals like to be watered and then get nearly dry (but not completely dry) before being watered again.

[jerrymeola]

To answer your question, overwatering will kill roots and no roots will cause leaves to shrivel.

While Phals like to be watered just before they dry out, letting it dry (but not too long) will kill less plants than too much water.

[BunnytheOrchid]

Hi plantmut, welcome to the forum to answer your question on why the orchid seems to have failed, rotten roots are most often a sign of overwatering, so you are probably correct to believe that. As for the leaves, watering can affect this as well as light. Since you mentioned that there are ridges in the leaves, this makes me think the leaves aren't getting enough water (because the roots aren't grabbing any since they're rotten), but if the leaves are also leathery and/or quite dark in color, this can be sign the lighting isn't ideal. Phals don't want too much light, but somewhat bright and indirect light is necessary. I do have to agree with mayres and hummer that it will take quite a long time to recover and not everyone wants to salvage such an orchid, but I am of the mindset that any living thing shouldn't be chucked out if it still has a chance. That being said, its your money and your orchid, so do what you think is best

[mayres]

There can potentially be a lot of issues here - I'll just note a few.
1) Many orchids are overwatered and abused at their point of sale by well meaning but unknowledgeable caregivers before the buyer even has a chance. The damage can be done to the root system and not yet show in the rest of the plant.
2) Many orchids (especially phals) are mass marketed for quick sale using the easiest method possible - using media like sphag ram-rodded into the pots like concrete - knowing full well that the majority of these plants will serve as nothing but "cut flower" arrangements. A good example of this is a group of plants I recently noted at a local Safeway store pressed with sphag into ceramic pots with no drainage hole whatsoever. An unknowing buyer to this has no chance whatsoever.
3) Your very best bet for raising a healthy phal is to obtain one from a respectable phal grower who has been taking care of it properly and has it (and media) in pristine condition when you start. Without this you need to know a little something about medias, root quality, etc. and be able to make the necessary changes from the get to.

Don't give up on phals - they are wonderful plants once you learn a few key points! Buy another one, take a pic or two to share, and walk through the growing experience with us..........we enjoy the comradarie of growing and learning together - nice to have you with us and hope you come back often.