probably silly question

[menuet]

OK, so I'm a newbie....so I think I'll go ahead and ask the silly question. I have a rescued phal (NOID from Home Depot) that I got off the 3/4-dead rack. It has leaves that look like a floppy bunny. After 6 mo of TLC, they are firm, and it has got new roots, and is doing well.

I also have a phal from Whole Foods. Its leaves look like normal rabbit ears. Also firm, also healthy.

I searched for "droopy leaves" on this website, and most responses say that droopy leaves are probably due to bad roots. I have a few very healthy roots, so I don't think that's it. Is there some genetic difference? Is this really a phal? What's going on?

I think it's a phal b/c that's what it looks like, but I'm guessing I could be wrong, b/c I'm an ignorant newbie. Anyone got any ideas? Sorry, I don't have a photo to upload. Technical neandertal.

[kmarch]

This isnt' a silly question at all and one that pretty much every new orchid grower has to sort it out at some point.

Droopy (wilted) leaves in phals are the result of the plant being dehydrated, not taking in enough water. If a phal's roots are bad (rotted roots are usually caused by overwatering) they can't take in enough water for the plant and so the leaves look droopy. Another cause of dehydration in an orchid is simple neglect or under watering where there's simply not enough water available for the plant to take in.

You can see why it's tricky. Droopy leaves can be caused by both underwatering and by overwatering. In your case you said the leaves were droopy when you bought the plant but that it had roots and after some time in your care the leaves firmed back up. So in that case the orchid had probably been under watered before you bought it.

[menuet]

Thank you for your response. BTW, all I learned about growing orchids I learned from your site, and I knew absolutely nothing when I started reading. 6 mo later I haven't killed anything. My plants have you guys to thank.

I have a new leaf that grew in about a month ago, and its also floppy shaped. The roots were in sad, sad shape when I first got the orchid. There were almost no roots left (just black mushy threads) and what was still attached was rotten and I don't know how it survived, but it did. The new leaf is growing in at about the same rate as the new roots. Does this mean when it eventually grows another leaf that it will be flat like my other phal that was healthy when I bought it??

[menuet]

Thank you for your response. BTW, all I learned about growing orchids I learned from your site, and I knew absolutely nothing when I started reading. 6 mo later I haven't killed anything. My plants have you guys to thank.

I have a new leaf that grew in about a month ago, and its also floppy shaped. The roots were in sad, sad shape when I first got the orchid. There were almost no roots left (just black mushy threads) and what was still attached was rotten and I don't know how it survived, but it did. The new leaf is growing in at about the same rate as the new roots. Does this mean when it eventually grows another leaf that it will be flat like my other phal that was healthy when I bought it??

Hm, I would upload the picture that I took, but it won't let me. Not neandertal after all, just not allowed?

[slippery_biscuit]

With no pictures, I am just going to venture the possibility that maybe things are okay. Some of my phals have good roots, flowering, etc., and the leaves just sorta droop over the pot. When you say floppy bunny ears, it made me think of my own plants.

It sounds like you're doing good with the roots and all; the rest should follow.

I guess we really need that pic to see what you mean by "floppy"!

Have you used the "manage attachments" button?

[menuet]

Ah, the photo size was too big.

When I bought the orchid and saw what a mess it was, I probably did not cut off as many roots as I should have. I couldn't believe it would have lived if I took everything off that probably needed to come off. If you have any thoughts as to what I should do with what I've got now, I would really appreciate it.

[brookn]

The roots look good, the leaves are good. The only thing I recommend before potting it up is to soak it for a few minutes in some peroxide, as it does appear to have a little rot near the center, no big deal.

[menuet]

I cleaned the area you pointed out as suggested, and noticed there was still some of that dad-gum moss jammed in there that I overlooked. Good grief. Hope getting rid of it and the peroxide will help clear it up.

Thank you for all your help!!!!!

Next I should ask about the oncidium I got from the rescue rack at the same time, but I think that can wait for another day.

[brookn]

Yep, that happens sometimes with the moss. I had the same thing yesterday when I did a repot. I got it all cleaned up, and I was really concerned about this black bit near the center, and I got out the tweezers, and it was old moss. Once I pulled it away, the plant looked fine. They suck the life right out of that stuff. Be sure to trim anything black and squishy.