No leaves on phal - 2008/03/31 07:03I found this site looking for help. I live in the tropics and received a phal for Valentines Day. It had four leaves and within 2 weeks 2 of the leaves turned yellow and fell off as though they were cut with a scissors at the base. My husband watered it only once during this time. A week or two later, the other two leaves which were still green detached as though they were cut with a scissors at the base as well. I removed the plant from the clear plastic pot filled with moss, and the roots look green and firm. There are two stems on the phal. One is yellow and dry, the other is green and looks good to me, except all of the flowers have now withered. Is there a chance for this phal with no leaves? I don't know if any of the green I see are baby leaves, but it doesn't look so.
No leaves on phal - 2008/07/09 01:02Well...sorry no one with more experience replied, but i'll give it a shot. Rule of thumb for Phals, from what i have learned, is no leaves = plant is dead. It needs the leaves to process it's food. I have had very bad luck with phals in the passed. Check post on " Total phalaenopsis newbie" under General.
No leaves on phal - 2008/10/04 04:58You know, I live in the tropics also and although I have always had problems with Phals I suggest you put it somewhere in the shade, just dampen the roots once in awhile and maybe,just maybe it will grow out of the heart of the plant with a new little plant. It has happened for me, if the whole plant isn't all dried up. Spray with a fungicide though, drench it good
No leaves on phal - 2008/10/04 14:20Nani, the original post was dated back in March of this year with the only response back in July. If you keep your phals outside be sure to protect them from overhead rain. In Hawaii my Dad used to keep his phals outside but covered with a large old house window. This allowed some sun to the phals but prevented them from getting wet whenever it rained (and it rained all the time!).
No leaves on phal - 2008/10/04 14:41Thanks for these comments. Unfortunately the phal I spoke about back in March did die. In retrospect, I believe this phal must have had some kind of physical trauma because the leaves detached in a clean line at the base. This might have happened when my husband carried it home in the car or when he watered it. He said he got the leaves wet. I have since been given another phal on Mother's Day - I reluctantly accepted. Within a few weeks that one lost its flowers and I cut the stem down as low as I could go. The leaves are still there. I have the phal indoors planted in bark specific for orchids. There is a new leaf starting to grow in the center, so I must be doing something right. I'm looking forward to seeing a "shoot" (don't remember the official name for that). I saw a black raised dot under a leaf and wonder if that might be a baby shoot.
No leaves on phal - 2008/10/04 15:32Lady_Slipper, a new leaf is a good sign that your phal is doing ok. I'm not sure what you mean by a black raised dot but keep an eye on that. Both roots and flower stems appear as a raised spot along the leaf crevice but I don't know about them being black. I normally see a green or white raised bump and start watching for either a root or flower stem. Initially, it's difficult to determine which one it is. As it continues to grow longer, flower stems are more pointy but roots stay rounded at the tip.
As to care, be sure to provide several hours of bright but indirect light, good air ciculation, and only water when the potting media is dry (usually once a week) allowing the roots to get dry and some air. Remember orchids are generally epiphytic (air) plants that normally grow in trees in the wild and we only use potting media to support the plants in pots for our convenience. Fertilize according to directions with a fertilizer specifically formulated for orchids.
Good luck and please don't hesitate to let us know how your phal is doing.
Re:No leaves on phal - 2008/10/04 22:42Thank you...phal are really the only orchids I grow that I seem to have problems with. I now use a systemic fungicide, that I didn't know about before, and hopefully they will become more cooperative!Mine are all together, pretty well protected, do flower, but never thrive..if you know what I mean.
Right now, my biggest problem is birds! They sit on the flower stem and break them off before anything opens or peck off the buds if reddish colored. I have been hanging old CD's (sure looks ugly) around (again) and seems to help...some!! Love birds but yikes, hate these guys!
Re:No leaves on phal - 2008/10/05 14:29Nani, what kind of birds attack your flower stems? Is there anyway you can place some kind of netting around your flowering phals? I guess since I keep my phals inside the house, I never have problems with birds. I really don't think there is anything short of a fake cat placed with the phals that would keep the birds away! Good luck with using the old CD's.
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