Dumb question?

grandmapenguin · #1 (**permalink**) 12-30-2011, 10:59 AM

Can someone tell me why some Phal leaves are very firm and some tend to be limp

I feel this is a dumb question since the roots look good and they are spiking but the leaves just look weird.
Terry

jsehorn · #2 (**permalink**) 12-30-2011, 01:19 PM

Without a picture it's hard to tell, but generally limp leaves indicate too little water. Root loss from overwatering results in plants being unable to take up moisture, so chronic overwatering can look a lot like underwatering, but you say the roots look good, so my guess would be underwatering.

Fishmom · #3 (**permalink**) 12-30-2011, 01:29 PM

No such thing as a dumb question.....

I only know that some phal leaves are a bit thicker than others. Are you sure you are really talking about limpness, not thinness?

jsehorn · #4 (**permalink**) 12-30-2011, 01:31 PM

Fishmom makes a good point. The leaves on some Phals are thick and firm (almost crispy) while some are thinner and more pliable. If the plant is in trouble, the leaves will be wrinkly and feel a bit leathery.

pikkumyy · #5 (**permalink**) 12-30-2011, 08:54 PM

the other two seem to have covered what i was going to say,

but i can only second fishmom in her comment that there is no such thing as a dumb question

orchidlover55 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-30-2011, 09:17 PM

I Have 85 Phal's and this has happen to a few of mine but I believe it's because I changed where it was sitting. Have you changed anything ? The amount of light , fertilizer or water? Eventually the leaf became stronger but it took a while .

grandmapenguin · #7 (**permalink**) 12-31-2011, 09:34 AM

thank you all for your comments. I agree some of my Phals leaves DO look different than others. I will keep an eye on them. I think it may be underwatering. I do run a fan 16 hours on some of them so watering could be more of the problem.
Many thanks again.

hera · #8 (**permalink**) 12-31-2011, 01:20 PM

I'm going to vote for light levels. The new ones might be "reaching" for light. Try increasing the light.

JudyC · #9 (**permalink**) 01-01-2012, 09:27 PM

I too am going thru this with 2 of my mini phals. I moved them to another room (facing same direction) and within 2 weeks I noticed a substantial difference.

I'm presently giving it a tad more light, warmth and a light spray on the leaves 1x/day. 1 is doing slightly better, the other seems to be at a standstill, neither gaining or loosing...so I must be doing something right ***fingers crossed***

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