does more leaves mean and older orchid?

[crazyblue]

Hello
I couldnt believe it when i went into my local cash and carry and discovered a display of phals!!
I brought two which are doing very well but both of them seem to have alot of leaves compared to my other phals.
One of the new ones i brought has 10 leaves, my other orchids vary from 4 to 6 leaves per plant. Does this mean my new phals are possibly older or is it that different plants produce more or less leaves?

[jay]

Phals can be interesting in this way. My mom has a phal that can't keep more than 3 leaves. As soon as the third leaf is done forming the oldest starts dying.

On the other hand, one that has 10 leaves is older and happy. Good cultural conditions help the plant get to that great size.

Congrats on your finds. I look forward to seeing pictures of these little beasts.

[Brooke]

It is the different genetics in the phals. Some will only carry three leaves and some will carry 10-12 etc. Many phals with the Doritis will always carry more leaves.

Brooke

[crazyblue]

i dont know why but i expected them to be in poor condition due to the price-£4.99
I always look very closley at any plant before i commit to buying it and i was shocked by the amount of leaves and the good strong roots, so i brought two! I'll post some photos when i can find my camera

[patticake]

Awesome. I can't wait to see! They sound like really healthy plants.

[janet_a]

there is an article in the current AOS bulletin about an outfit in taiwan that grows those fabulous waterfall phals you see in shows--plants with 4 foot long spikes with 30+ flowers? i only skimmed the article, but it seems they grow them very warm for a few years, so all they do is grow leaves, then they chill them and the flower spikes are fantastic. your plant may have had some vegetative forcing like that.

my oldest phal is carrying about 8 leaves; i've had it since february '02.

[crazyblue]

This is one of the my new phals and is the one with the most leaves.

[Sharyn]

Originally Posted by Brooke

It is the different genetics in the phals. Some will only carry three leaves and some will carry 10-12 etc. Many phals with the Doritis will always carry more leaves.Brooke

Yes, I agreee with Brooke - those with Doritis always seem to have many leaves. I have one with 9 leaves and have only lost one old leaf in the last two years. Then I have other phals whose genetics seem to dictate, no more than 3 or 4 leaves. Like Jay, one of my small phals will only grow three leaves. When a new leaf starts, the bottom leaf falls.

[crazyblue]

Thanks for the help with my question! I do have another though.
The orchid in the picture started to develop spots on two leaves on one side. These patches have since have turned brown and are dead but it has only happened on the outside of two leaves on the same side of the plant.
Im sorry if im wrong but what i think has happened is that water has been allowed to sit on the leaf while it was in the shop and this has turned these patches brown.
Am i right????