Sunburned babies: what to expect now?

[booboo.tannenbaum]

A few days ago a few of my phals got a bit sunburned--two hours of being misplaced in more (although not direct) light than they should've had. So far the blooms look fine, but some of the leaves are yellow and/or browning.

What can I expect from here with them? Are there any particular things I can do to help them recover? *Will* they recover?! Might the leaves ever re-green, or will they brown and wither and die?

Do my phals have any future or are they "burnouts"--sob, sob, *sniffle*sniffle*? OH such a horrible mother, I am!

xoxo,
booboo

[MariahK]

One of my phals got burned We usually dont have hot weather and one of my babies got burned in a freak heat wave we had. So far it dropped a few of the leaves the flowers were fine even tried to put out a second bloom which I cut off. I figure it needs to put it's energy into making new leaves not flowers. I have since moved it to a safer location and am hovering over it. No new leaves yet, but some new root growth. I do not believe the burnered leaves can ever re-green and mine dropped all it's bad leaves. Other then that I haven't found alot of info on what to do. Good luck

[Sharyn]

The burned leaves will not recover. They will eventually turn yellow and drop off. They just won't look too great right now. The Phal should be fine and will start new leaves. I probably would have done the same thing in cutting off the flower spike. Definitely keep it out of the sun. Some people give their Phals a few hours of morning sun from the East, but mine get none and do just fine. I might add that my phals are grown indoors. I didn't bother to put them outdoors because of our extreme heat this summer. They like temperatures like me!

[jerrymeola]

the leaves may not drop off but they will always look poor.

[MissConnie]

Awww poor Orchid! and poor you! dont feel bad! im sure it will recover! xxxx

Even though the burned leaves on my plant look poor, it's only costmetic. I don't cut them off as the plant can still utilize the leaves and in fact needs them to produce more leaves.

[booboo.tannenbaum]

Well, after Saturday's sunburn, the first of the three that were affected has lost its last remaining four blooms (this is the phal in my avatar). I know I need to cut the spike off now and let it invest all its energy into.... into I dunno what!? Making new leaves? New spikes? I fear it won't spike again this winter; I guess only time will tell. Too bad I can't rub aloe vera on it and help it get better, ha!

Do I cut the spike off down at the base, or above one of the lower 'nodes' (this may not even be the right term).

xoxo,
booboo

[Tobi]

Booboo,
I would cut the spike at the base down to about 1-2 inches. This will give
your plant the most energy storing possibility for it's next blooming season.