Phal only growing leaves??

[JackiRN]

I received a Phal from my boyfriend last year for my birthday. When I first got it, it was in a plastic container, which I repotted into an orchid pot with cutout holes and sphagnum moss. I have read only to water it once a week, and have been diligently adhering to those instructions. Right now its in sunny room, not directly in the sunlight, which is 79* F. I got it with three 8" long leaves, and a flower spike last year. Now, it has an additional 12" leaf as well as a 14" leaf, and another is starting to bud. The new leaves are very strong and heavy (I had a hard time trying to get the plant to stay upright as the leaf grew) but the original bottom leaf (it's first leaf) is still bright green, but a little limp. I have not gotten any sort of flower spike this year, and had let it have a few weeks last fall of lower temperatures at night. My main question is, is it happy? I would love to get a spike soon! I know I may have to wait another year, but am I doing anything wrong?

[bearded orchid]

Sounds like you're doing things right. Sometimes Phals take awhile to adjust to more natural blooming cycles because commercial growers will force blooms to sell them.

[JackiRN]

Whew! Thanks! As far as the huge leaves (14") giving the poor plant a hard time staying upright, should I just try and guide it as it continues to grow? Should I trim the first leaf that's limp?

[mayres]

Phals grow on trees in the wild and their leaves then hang off to the side and downwards. Many of them "want" to grow that way in upright pots in the worst way - you can keep repotting them and they will just continue to turn themselves sideways - often turning towards the light. They would most likely be less inclined to do that if they were in a greenhouse or other location with equal lighting from all sides. I've had a huge phal with leaves 16" long that did the same thing - in fact had to put the plastic pot into a very heavy porcelin pot to keep it from tipping over. It is normal for the bottom leaf to yellow and fall off, but also can be the first sign of root quality issues. You might depot and confirm that you are not getting any root rot from degrading media which keeps them too damp. Sphag moss typically must be replaced more often than other media options.......
As noted previously - hopefully your phal will get some good day to night temp differential this fall and decide to throw up a spike for you - this fall would be the most typical period for that to happen........

[ChryssM]

The leaves in nature are hanging down while the plant is usually attached to a tree. We are requiring it to do unnatural things, like stand upright in a pot ! The solution, if you don't want to mount it to a tree or hang it sideways in a basket, is to insert a stake and tie it to the stake. I use coated wire or galvanized wire. You can use bamboo but it can rot after a while. They have spring loaded clips in different shapes to attach the plant to the stake, or use tomato ties, string, anything but do it gently.

Welcome to Geeks and good growing !!
.

[JackiRN]

Thanks Mayres and ChryssM! Greatly appreciate your expertise!

Your phal is doing its job...growing leaves and growing new roots. It has to do that first to gather enough energy to spike out and bloom. It cant do both at the same time, to grow leaves and roots and spike and bloom all at the same time; unless you have a phal with terminal spike like mine...and its scary...growing leaves, spiking and blooming before it dies...you are in PA; when the cooler weather of fall arrives, you will have your spike and blooms...this weird summer weather will not have phals spike and bloom, whereas my vandas; they are loving the hot and humid atmosphere we eastcoasters got and its blooming!

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Anky

Your phal is doing its job...growing leaves and growing new roots. It has to do that first to gather enough energy to spike out and bloom. It cant do both at the same time, to grow leaves and roots and spike and bloom all at the same time; unless you have a phal with terminal spike like mine...and its scary...growing leaves, spiking and blooming before it dies...you are in PA; when the cooler weather of fall arrives, you will have your spike and blooms...this weird summer weather will not have phals spike and bloom, whereas my vandas; they are loving the hot and humid atmosphere we eastcoasters got and its blooming!

That's not correct Anky. I have a number of phals that grow leaves, roots and bloom...all at the same time. It depends on the genetics of the specific phal. Heck, my kunstleri not only bloomed (2nd go-round this Summer), grew roots and a new leaf all at the same time...it also popped a basal keiki.

[bearded orchid]

Originally Posted by katrina

That's not correct Anky. I have a number of phals that grow leaves, roots and bloom...all at the same time. It depends on the genetics of the specific phal. Heck, my kunstleri not only bloomed (2nd go-round this Summer), grew roots and a new leaf all at the same time...it also popped a basal keiki.

Same thing with my maroon Noid Phal. It's has two reblooms, two keikis, two new leaves and several roots all going at once. Genetics are the great grab-bag of horticulture!

[katrina]

Originally Posted by bearded orchid

Same thing with my maroon Noid Phal. It's has two reblooms, two keikis, two new leaves and several roots all going at once. Genetics are the great grab-bag of horticulture!

Exactly!! There is no one size fits all w/these guys and that's part of the fun....the challenge of figuring it all out and seeing the rewards of a healthy plant and those blooms.

[orchids4me]

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Seems you got the best info already here
Enjoy your stay