My Phal Naples Night is gone!!!

[kktbva]

I can't believe I killed my Phal Naples Night. A few days after I received the plant from Jerry, I reportted it in coconut husk chips, bark, charcoal, and a little sphag. It seemed to be doing well for a couple weeks. I watered once a week and sprayed every other day with worm tea. Then yesterday, since I didn't see any progress, I decided to move it to the kitchen windowsill to give it more light. I accidentally hit one of the leaves (not very hard) and the leave just felt off the plant! I got panic, so I examined each of the remaining leaves, and every one I touched just felt off onto my hand The leaves were all green and looked very healthy.

All I had left was the root, which seemed to be dry. I think it died because of being underwatered. I "sphag and bag" the root, but doubt it will survive....hic...hic...

~Kathie


Leaves.JPG

Pot1.JPG

Roots.JPG

[sandra]

That is a total bummer. What I find strange is the way in which it died. I would think the plant would go limp. I'm suspicious that something else was going on. I don't know if it's right or wrong but I'm not so sure how compromised it became because of the daily misting, possibly? Were you misting the whole plant?

[NancyG]

Sorry to hear about that.

Mine started out a little limp but is fine now. I will keep a watch on it.

So strange that the leaves looked fine and just fell off. Do you think any bugs got at it? The roots didn't look so good.

NancyG

[kktbva]

Hi Sandra,

I sprayed the plant and the surface of the medium every other day, not too much though. I placed it with the 2 Dens I got from Jerry in the same order (Yellow Song and Oriental Smile) and 4 other mature Phals which are all doing well, no sign of bugs/diseases.

~Kathie

[janet_a]

when otherwise healthy leaves just fall off, it's usually rot at the base of the leaf. or some type of chemical insult--al had some of his plants do that after the fire at his greenhouse; he figured it's the plant equivalent of smoke inhalation.

an underwatered plant will do the shrivel-up-and-die thing, not just come apart all at once.

[articuno75]

The base of the leaves look almost like they didn't get to dry out quick enough and developed and fungus/rot. Was there air flowing on the plant and what was the temps in the room?

[brookn]

I had a Phal Brother Little Yellowboy do the same thing, some plants are more susceptible to these things. This is basically crown rot, you can see where the ends came off and are brown is right at the crown. Misting has to be done very carefully, but mine was not misted and did it anyway, I do get the crowns wet when watering. If they don't get completely dry in the crown it can happen. Cinnamon spray into the crown helps after watering.

[Sharyn]

I agree with the others that it sounds like rot, however, since you're growing on a kitchen windowsill, I'd advise to be very careful when lighting your stove. If it doesn't ignite immediately, gas fumes can kill an orchid very quickly. I speak from experience. You should also remove your orchids from the kitchen when using the heavy-weight cleaners with chemicals.

Just a thought....................

[Hummer344]

This is exactly what my species phal did. Its a mystery to me but rot is probaly the answer.

[patticake]

This is so sad! I'm inclined to agree with some of the others. If water was collecting in the leaf joints from the mistings, and also not enough to the roots, and they were drying out, then I think you might have gotten rot right where they meet the center. I have a large Phal noid that that started to happen to way back. I started making sure the roots were damp, but not wet, and keeping moisture from where the leaf joins the stem. I have 2 leaves that are o.k.- I think it will be quite a while (if at all) before it recovers. You might want to start over instead. Good luck!

[mayres]

Sounds like we are all thinking the same thing (crown rot). I also think the routine mistings (and then not drying out enough) were a factor. Unlike many phal growers I drown mine, crown and all, when I water and periodically just for fun in lieu of a lighter "misting" - as long as its done early in the day and it is warm with good air movement - never a problem. Most of us who have grown very many phals seem to come across a plant that does this - as noted, it is interesting how you can be treating all your plants seemingly identical and they all are doing great and just one will do this. The trick is determining - what was different on this ONE? A populaton of microorganisms different from its earlier life (my guess)?

[articuno75]

Mike has a good point, but they all came from the same tray. If Kktbva's had a specific type of microorganism like that, then wouldn't all of them have it? I don't see that happening.

Something is going on with the plants that several of the members are experiencing with the "floppy" leaves and rotting of crowns. For every one of the incidence that have occured I have asked the conditions, (ie~temp, light, ). There is that one key factor that is going on that is causing this and we need to find the culprit and pin it down. Thing is what is it?

[solay]

POOO. I hate when plants all of a sudden die like that. Unexpected and all. So sorry to hear that. Wish I knew more about Phals. to help.

[mayres]

Do we have another DIMP (died in my possession) from a rotten crown? Bummer! I'm wondering if getting the plant potted too deep in the pot with moisture retentive mix could play a factor?

[articuno75]

No, I think Kktbva's was the first death. (I could be wrong... ) but there are the others with leaf and root problems that could possibly lead to another DIMP.

What I have noticed on the others was that it was taking too long for the medium to dry out, and it wasn't drying out evenly. Also it was getting chillier in the evenings. These Phals like to get wet, but dry out quickly. They also like to stay warm. When mine started to droop, the temp dropped in my apartment all the way down to 68 degrees. The medium was still damp and the Phal didn't like it at all.

[berkeleysgr8]

I had purchased a couple of Naples Nights last year. One of which put up two big, gorgeous, branching flower spikes. Well, I killed the poor thing before more than just a few of the flowers opened (they were more stunning in person than in photos)... I apparently overwatered it. Sorry to hear you lost yours too. I'm not too proud to admit that I've had many, many DIMPs over the years. Maybe that kind of sorrow is what we need to keep our gratitude when we SUCCESSFULLY get an orchid to re-bloom!

[patticake]

Hummer's plant was in 40 degree temps. at night. Phals like 65+ at least the species- Thats what Cynthia noted in another thread. What were your temperature ranges?

[articuno75]

LOL, Patti you silly goose, Hummer's was the Phal amboinensis. But yeah, Hummer chilled/killed it.

What I was thinking was the Naples Nights were getting a little cooler than intended during the night. This would cause the floppy/dropping/rotting leaves.

[patticake]

Sorry! The brain is totally screwed up these days!

[patlee]

I think Mike might be on to something--My Naples Night has a leaf that is "floppy" rather that pointing upward like the rest of the leaves I have it potted in Schultz's Orchid with "fired ceramic granules". According to the package these are supposed to improve drainage and moisture retention Hmmmm Someplace in my subconscious I have decided that all my problems with chids come from potting things too close to the wet mix! So I've started pushing the medium away from the base of the plant. This weekend, if all goes as planned, I will take a step towards the ultimate remedy:mounting!!