OMG! I can't believe this happened!!

[englandfx]

I was taking a shower when suddenly, I hear something in my bedroom hit the floor.

I realized my phalaenopsis orchid had been toppled by the strong wind!
I was planning on closing the windows before I showered but decided not to since most nights the breeze hasn't been a problem.

I was wrong tonight!
As a result, my phal got knocked over and now I am soooo extremely upset at myself for not closing that window

OMG!! I can't take this anymore! I really loved that phal soooo much


Here you can see it when I first saw it as I stepped into my room.


The spike is broken!!


Had to cut it off


The blooms were so beautiful, and they got smushed


Buds were still developing at the end, now everything is lost ... ..


I don't know ... if I can survive now.. .. I will try to pick up the pieces of what is left of this tragedy and hopefully try to move on

I...
am depressed.

[lmartiny]

Well, that is defnately a bummer. But as you will learn with orchids, Sh__ happens!
Put your spike in a vase and enjoy it as long as you can. Repot your Phal and move on. They will persevere.

[Plucky Purcell]

Boy do I know that feeling. The plus is it looks like it has a second spike, or am I imagining that?

[benetay]

Ya looks like a second spike! Nothing to worry, it happens to me a lot of times that i quite got used to it.

Cheers!

[Tarad]

Awww I hate it when that happens! Oh well put it in a nice vase of water and enjoy the blooms and wait for that second spike to bloom. The phal will be fine, it will enjoy a repot Tara

[englandfx]

Yes there is a second spike, but now that it has fallen and hit the ground... and with the repot I have to do, I don't know if it will just die off. =/

But now I am more hopeful and determined to make sure my phal is happy. I have rested and sleep last night, which is a good thing and my mind is now clear and I feel way better.

Lesson learned: Never place a phal near a window that has strong breeze coming in.

[englandfx]

Well here is the repot I did this morning: ... Things won't ever be the same =/



I can only hope now that the phal will be alright.

Oh also, I plan on getting 3 new phals next 2 weeks from now. I am going to buy a big wooden slate basket and put all three of them in it.

[Tarad]

You will see Phals have this amazing ability to bounce back after trauma. It may not even skip a beat. Looks good! Tara

[solay]

Knocking over plants accidentally is part of the orchid growing experience. It's happened to all of us one time or another. It is very upsetting but the plant will survive usually. Hope your Phal. makes a full recovery and bloom again soon for you.

[jensan]

I feel your pain. But it doesn't look to bad, and I'm sure the new plants will perk it up.

[PhalPal]

I have never lost a Phal to a fall and I live in a house with six cats. Enough said.

[hulaorchid]

You are really having a time of it! I think we have all had plants fall over or be knocked over! I will be OK, It looks like a really healthy plant!

[englandfx]

I do pray everynight to the orchid gods to help me out :P

oh btw, PhalPal why do u have so much cats?
I take it your not a dog person huh lol

[LouisW]

Oh that's a bummer but I think the plant will be fine. Breaking off a spike will usualy not affect the health of the plant, heck it may even give it a boost because the flowers are no longer using extra energy. Looks like you have potted it up well, I think it will continue to grow as normal.

[Tarad]

Wow 6 cats? My dog Paco cant reach my Phals but I dont think he would care to touch them anyway but cats love to walk around stuff especially tippy stuff Tara

[brookn]

Your Phal looks like it will be fine. PhalPal has dogs also lol. Some of us love dogs and cats equally .

[lmartiny]

Yes. Our critters define us. And the orchids round out the rough edges!!
FX, as you build your collection you will learn you lose one, you gain another. Its just the way it will be.

[patticake]

It will be fine...The plant can put it's energy into growth instead of blooms, now. It may do even better next time!

[FLBob]

Placing the plant by a window with a nice breeze was a good idea. Nice environment for the plant. The lesson learned is that when plants become large they need to be counter balanced. I've been known to place a large rock in the center of a pot. If you looked at my plants you'd see plants sitting inside much larger pots on a bed of rocks (dens). I can't tell you how many times I've had plants topple in the wind. Add squirrels, birds, dogs, and a mother in law that grabs flowers when smelling them and there isn't enough antacid in the world to relieve my heart burn.

[englandfx]

lol

I sure am grateful that the wind is the only problem for me, and not other factors.

[PhalPal]

I never intended to have six cats, but three of them sought me out and adopted ME! I also have two Golden Retrievers. Considering all are indoor cats, I truly have very few problems with either nibbled leaves or knock-overs. In fact, one of my Goldens can take responsibility for most of the toppled to the floor mishaps. It seems she has a very happy tail with little control.

Little trials like this one teach us that orchids are really tough plants and not as fragile as we think they are as beginners.

[bemarine]

I know the feeling one of mine fell that I call "dumbo ears". It cracked two of the leaves almost in half. I had to invent something for support and it developed meshing. I guess its form of trying to heel. It seems fine now, but it put a crack in my heart as much as its leaves were hurt.

[woaini1116]

it's ok!!! at least the plant itself is fine and not a total loss!

[vcuchick]

Oh nooo! Poor baby! (well, at least your orchid didn't become lunch...my cat ate one of mine once...)

Good luck with the rehab!

[woaini1116]

Originally Posted by vcuchick

Oh nooo! Poor baby! (well, at least your orchid didn't become lunch...my cat ate one of mine once...)

Good luck with the rehab!

haha!! cats must think orchids are good snacks, cos mine like to try to get at my poor defenseless babies all the time!!!

[kid a]

AAAHHHHHH! Your poor phal will A-O K. Poor thing. On the plus side I'm glad you haven't given up and Im glad to look forward to pictures of new ones when you get them Yay!

[tizzycat]

your phal. looks fine - no need to worry.

Don't forget to post pictuers of your new ones when they arrive.

[katrina]

Put a blooming phal...or any top-heavy plant that's potted in plastic down inside a clay pot for stability. It'll take a lot more to topple it over if in the clay.

[dtje2000]

Originally Posted by FLBob

I can't tell you how many times I've had plants topple in the wind. Add squirrels, birds, dogs, and a mother in law that grabs flowers when smelling them and there isn't enough antacid in the world to relieve my heart burn.

[PhalPal]

Don't you just love people who must touch flowers to smell them?????? Don't they know these are not roses and only bloom once a year after much love and patience!!!?????

[englandfx]

Here is an update on the toppled phal!

A new leaf has started to grow at the top, and as you can see, the 2nd spike that wasn't snapped by the fall has just ONE bloom on it (One is always better than none xD, so I am somewhat happy)

[dtje2000]

wow...is that flower as big as it appears to be? It looks huge! a very lovely flower.

[englandfx]

nah, it is just the angle in which it was captured. xD

[lmartiny]

Glad to see it is doing OK.

[englandfx]

Here is an update of what it looks like now. The spike is still there with the one flower xD

[solay]

Another very healthy Phal. Spikes will be coming in in no time.