An observation about recovering Phals

[jpyerry]

This is kind of an observation/question on recovering Phals.

After having my first orchid for about 9 months now, I have an observation. After buying my first Phal, it quickly lost its blooms and I was quite worried. After being encouraged to trim away its rotted roots and repot it, which I did. Through a great deal of help from all of the geeks on this site, I was able to bring it to rebloom. When it rebloomed, I got two flowers on the spike, when I first bought it it had about 5 or 6 flowers. In addition, most people say that when the plant grows new leaves, the new leaf tends to be larger than the leaf before it. In this particular plant, the new leaves have been smaller than the previous leaves, ie the leaves present when I bought it. But, of the new leaves, each progressive leaf is larger than its predecessor.

My question is whether or not this is an observable trend with Phalaenopsis orchids, that the size of the plant and the floriferousness of its spikes also goes through a recovery period? With proper care, will the plant be brought back to its former self and possibly supercede the point at which I bought the plant?

I just would like to know what my expectations should be.

[ChryssM]

The leaves growing progressively larger is a healthy sign ! Every plant is stressed in varying degrees when its environment is changed. Some are quick to adapt, sounds like yours is, and others aren't ! Buds and blooms are easily stressed and the quickest to react, usually dropping off (blasting).

You have more than 1 new leaf in 9 months ? That's great for a Phal ! One per season would be usual. IMO you can expect to do just fine with your Phal !
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[ARodney]

Jp, I've spoken to people who grow orchids for retail, who are AOS judges and some who are in the phal alliance, who have instructed me that when a phal has experienced any type of trauma, the best thing to do is cut the spike. They have informed me keeping the spike makes the plant work harder to both grow the leaves and flower. Yes you can keep a spike and it will rebloom if it isn't yellow, but with less flowers and/or even smaller flowers. In my opinion and experience, I cut the spike so the plant can focus it's energy on growing then respiking. Of course they are some exceptions like everything else. For example, I wont cut the spike of one of my species phal because they take forever to grow much less spike.

As always, every orchid hobbyist has their own way of growing their chids and will make great suggestions. However what works for me may not necessarily work for you. hope this helps.

[jpyerry]

"You have more than 1 new leaf in 9 months ? That's great for a Phal ! One per season would be usual. IMO you can expect to do just fine with your Phal !"

Actually, in this time I've had 3 new leaves.

[jpyerry]

""You have more than 1 new leaf in 9 months ? That's great for a Phal ! One per season would be usual. IMO you can expect to do just fine with your Phal !"

Actually, in this time I've had 3 new leaves."

But none have been larger than the leaves when I bought the plant, each new leaf is larger than the new leaf before it.

[Dendian]

It has been my experience when I get a Phal from a big box store that it takes a bit for the plant to recover from what they experienced while being at the store. Usually they have rotten roots from being overwatered - some were put outside and sunburned, and they were kept in the store at less than ideal temps/light levels - for however long it took to sell them.

Their next blooming is usually much smaller, because they were stressed and are recovering.

However, the subsequent blooming is usually much better - altho not always what the plants were were sold with. That first blooming was grown under ideal fast-growing conditions - with lots of special fertilizers to make them grow fast and then bloom big.

I would say you could get as good or better blooms as the plant matures with good culture

Oh- I have also found that leaves will grow smaller on a phal in response to higher light.. my really really big leaves are on the plants furthest from the window - the ones closer have smaller leaves. If I switch the plants around the subsequent leaves on the large leafed phals will be smaller

Your plant is trying its best to grow leaves and new roots. It is gathering energy for it to spike and bloom . Maybe the fall temperatures in Albany, NY will trigger it to bloom ...you have early cold than Manhattan...this time of year you already have signs of golden leaves

[Mira-Claude]

My knowledge of store bought phal is that the plants themselves had been forced to flower too early, making, sometimes, even large seedlings push out spikes in hope to survive. So since they flowered too young they tend to do so again when recovering from the stress. But since they are so small they tend to produce less flowers with duller colors. On the other hand, plants who never flower bought from shows and growers tend to be showier even in their first blooming season. It's my experience anyway.

[Orchidsrock]

I've noticed that orchids bought through big box stores tend to have smaller bloom numbers on the rebloom after purchase. I think stress and the indoor, lower light, environment play equal roles.

Though I'm just happy when I repot them and they have healthy root systems and they grow for me.