limp Phal leaf

[sandra]

This Phal has been seemingly healthy, putting out lots of roots, growing nicely....so why is this top leaf all of a sudden, drooping like this? Can't figure it out. Doesn't need water, all the leaves are firm except this top one now? Should I check the roots and repot or just leave it alone for now?

[Tobi]

Hi Sandra,
When was the last time it was repotted? Usually droopy leaves are caused
by a watering condition, either over or under watering. But as you stated it
is not being overwatered. Maybe not enough water? I'd leave it go and monitor
it for awhile unless it's hasn't been repotted in your care since you purchased
it. If that's the case you might want to look at the roots.

[sandra]

Thanks Tobi. I repotted this in July when I bought it. Without wanting to disturb it, from what I'm able to see, I think the roots are looking good. I've been watering the Phals on an average of every 6 days lately, when they seem to need it and I'm soooooo careful not to get any water in the crown. I'll take your suggestion and leave it for now and keep monitoring.

I hope I'm not overlooking something......

[digitalgate]

if the top leave is still firm, then a combination of frequent moving of
Phalaenopsis and light direction can cause this. Nonthing alarming you just need to support the leaf to the correct (dont twist too much) position and
shine the light from the top of the leaf. The leaf will straighten itself.
This happen to me often , the leaf often straighten by my gentle notching and it grow just fine. It usually will straighten in about 1 week.
Is your Phalaenopsis Leopard? My other Phalaenopsis don't do this , just the
Leopard.

[sandra]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

if the top leave is still firm, then a combination of frequent moving of Phalaenopsis and light direction can cause this.

You know digitalgate, that makes sense. I did move this Phal. to another area so just maybe, that's what caused the sudden droopiness. This Phal was labeled, "Wedding Promenade" which I've seen a wide variety of. It's heavily spotted, similar to my avatar but not as pretty, in my opinion.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[sandra]

digitalgate: I did a google search of a Phal. Leopard and came up with this pic. This looks exactly like this Phal. that's drooping labeled, "Wedding Promenade" so what you've said in your previous post about you noticing these leaves getting limp, might be because of this type of Phal. then. Live and learn!

[Nancy]

Your Phalaenopsis looks very healthy and happy, evidenced by those long, beautifull roots. i have a Phalaenopsis 'Wedding Promenade' and it's one of the droopiest phals I've got. The leaves stay green and firm but they curve under on the ends. I wouldn't worry about the plant. By the way, did you purchase the plant from The Home Depot?

[phalaephila]

Hi:

Sometimes when this happens to me, I take one of those bamboo skewers, stick it into the growing medium, and just prop the leaf up till it strengthens. Maybe a skewer on either side to hold it in place?

Jeanne

[articuno75]

Those Phals are sooo pretty. Are they also considered as Harlequin Phals?

[sandra]

Nancy, I'm feeling a little better now that I'm reading from others like you, that limp leaves on these Phals are more common than I realized. I think I bought this at WalMart.

Jeanne, I'm doing what digitalgate suggested and giving it more light and patience. I'm almost afraid to try and raise it with supports, fearing I'll damage the leaf. I'll just let it be for now...fingers crossed.

articuno, my avatar is a harlequin. I'm not quite sure if the photo I posted here would be considered one though. Harlequins usually are waxy and the spotting is raised/bumpy in various degrees, some heavily and others just slightly.

[digitalgate]

if you are scare of using thing to prop it up. Then use - gravity
then your media will be falling all over. It might be difficult as the light have to
be shinning from below. May be tilt the plant to one end and force the
leaf to move in the direction that you want.Make use of the light, leaf always
grow in the direction of light.

[patlee]

Hi All, I have a "Wedding Promenade" also, but I have seen so many variations on the theme (from picotee to solid colored blooms) that I think this is just another example of the growers mislabeling things. Either that, or it's so popular a variety that almost anything fits under that name...
On another note, I just got a floppy-leafed Phal from a reputable grower. I was a bit concerned by the leaf, but Digitalgate was right! I changed the light and the leaf is straightening out just fine

[mayres]

Sandra - is that large bark you have this phal planted in? In my experience with 35 or so phals, they only get droopy leaves from lack of water - both underwatering AND overwatering can cause this. Of course poor roots effectively would = underwatering, even though you may be overwatering. Since you can see the roots and have verified that the roots are in good shape I think the issue is most likely the water absorption properties of the bark you are using. I have taken a fairly large phal in the past with good roots and stiff leaves and after potting it into new bark and watering once a week for 3-4 weeks have noted the leaves getting droopier and droopier and even slightly ridged from water loss - with the roots still being in good shape. This was my last phal in bark (at work) - it had previously done fine in bark - but now seemed to be very very slowly dessicating. Hmmm. I have said this before - not all bark is created equal. I believe this particular bark was not retaining adequate moisture for the roots and associated plant. I decided to put it into my coir mix and BOING! EVERY LEAF within a week was sticking straight out like stiff plastic! Now instead of watering every week I water every three weeks or so - and the leaves have continued to remain stiff and perky. Something to think about - may or may not apply to your conditions and plant..............

[sandra]

Mike, the mix is small bark by Schultz. I used a few larger chips from my other mix just on top. Confession time: After that incredibly, in-depth tutorial you gave, I tried your recipe on 2 of my Phals and they both died. I didn't want to tell you...I didn't want to make you feel bad. I don't know why it works so well for you and didn't, for me? I can only assume the weather here being so humid, caused this mix to retain too much moisture, possibly? Watering the plants, created a very soggy, muddy mixture that seemed, never to dry and both plants were dead within 2 weeks.

I'm finding that the Schultz works best on my Phals and I've had pretty good results so far. This one Phal. is also stiff, it's just the newest leaf that's all of a sudden gotten droopy. I'm assuming it's because of the type of Phal it is, from what others here have advised. I didn't unpot the plant but looking through the pot, the roots appear to be healthy. I don't think I'm over or under watering. The bark is maintaining moisture and does dry out so I'm hoping that this one leaf will just straighten out as others here have seen this with their Phals.

Fingers crossed....

[digitalgate]

for this type of Phalaenopsis, if the leaf go "soft" in one day(I didnt say leaves)
then it is the movement and light caused the problem. If all the leaves do that
then good luck.:<

[mayres]

Sandra - Excellent - as you have properly noted, not everything works for everyone - we all have slightly different environments and cultural challenges. I'm glad you fessed up - we don't learn from each other if we don't all share our experiences - both good and bad. Who knows? I may even try bark again on some phals one day myself? (not sphag though!) I cannot imagine any phal dying in two weeks in any media unless it was crown rotting or litteraly sitting in water/media "soup" as you have noted. Maybe the type of coir you used and the percentages of ingredients also played a role in the media conditions? I know Sharyn also noted previously that she experienced some poor results with a particular product she had tried early in the learning process. Hopefully - we all continue to learn together. When you said, "droopy" were you just speaking of the new leaf tilted sideways? If so, I would agree with all the other comments - probably just the leaf reacting to the direction of the light. When I think of the word "droopy" and apply it to phal leaves I think more of them feeling thin and limp - not the direction that they are tilted. Of course we can't tell that from a picture. PS - like to send you some nice COLD Oregon weather and you could return some of that Florida sunshine!

[articuno75]

Could it have been that you was watering too much with Mike's mix? I've been using the Aussie mix which is similiar and due the my conditions which is dry, and it has been working very well. I don't have to water but maybe every 10 days tops. I do keep an eye on my phals daily for any changes though. Also maybe if you reduced the amount of coir and added more charcoal or even some bark to the mix. Everyones conditions are different and even I had to add a little coco husk to mine

[sandra]

You were understood correctly digitalgate. It's just the newest leaf. I'm watching it very carefully. I feel like I should be doing more than watching but for now, I'll give it some time and hope it will straighten out. If I see it doesn't, I'll unpot and check things out further....then sniffle!

Originally Posted by digitalgate

for this type of Phalaenopsis, if the leaf go "soft" in one day(I didnt say leaves)
then it is the movement and light caused the problem. If all the leaves do that
then good luck.:<

[mayres]

Don't spend too much time "watching" that leaf Sandra! It is just slightly more exciting than watching paint dry.

[digitalgate]

you know watching the ants carry food to their nest is interesting. When they
reached there spray them with insecticides! some people have weird habit.