Phragmipedilum trouble

[heatherbear10]

Hey all,

I have a Phragmipedilum that my wonderful hubby bought me a few months ago. It had a huge spike, but the bud was dead inside, and it never bloomed. My hubby thought it looked like the plant had root rot, so he soaked the roots and untangled them. We then hung her in a wooden box, and used Orchid bark as potting medium. She (we've named her Lulu) did pretty well hanging in my tree in central FL, but in the past week or so has lost one lower leaf to yellowing and shriveling. Some dead roots are hanging out of the bottom of the box. Looks to not be getting enough water if I were to guess, but gets watered every morning pretty well. Baby keiki about 1" tall at the base. Do I need a different potting medium? Maybe too much sun, or not enough? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

That plantlet you called a keiki is not a keiki. It is next seasons fan and potential flowers. Phrags are sympodials and grow sideways like Cattleyas, Dendrobiums, and Oncidiums. Monopodials like Phalaenosis and Vanda just grow mostly upward. The leaf lost recently could just be due to old age for the leaf. As long as the plant maintains enough leaf mass, it will be OK. Cynthia

[heatherbear10]

Cynthia,

Is it safe to say that this year's plant will not flower again, but the plantlet should? Or can the "mother plant" potentially flower again?

Also I noticed the edges of the leaves look slightly crisp. Sounds like too much sun?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I have never heard of an old fan reblooming. I am not that much of an old pro with Phrags or Paphs. Maybe some one else can answer about the leaf edges. All of the Phrags I have are high light plants, except bessiae. This one is a real contrast to the others as it is a very low light plant, lower than Phals. You might want to check the parentage in your plant to see if it has very much bessiae in it.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/research/regis...chidsearch.asp
Cynthia