Lorieu, the commonest cause of wilty, droopy leaves in phals is rotted roots.

Url for a method of rehydrating and reviving rootless phals is below. The title of it was "Don't give up!"

There is also a thread below started by a poster named "bevo" about success she had reviving failing phals. If you do a search for that name, you will find the original post where the methods she used to save her dying phals are described.

Finally, a few minutes spent reading culture notes for phals at the Canadian Orchid Congress, Big Leaf Orchids and Bedford Orchids will repay you handsomely in success with your phals.

The yellow patch on the leaf-- I'm not sure what you mean about a lump, but if the yellow patch does not extend across the leaf, just cut out the yellow part (use a sterile razor blade). Dust the edges of the cut with cinnamon. That often will take care of the problem.

If the yellow keeps spreading, you may not be able to save the leaf.

The center leaf on a phal (called the crown) is the growing point, so you want to save that at all costs.

Hope this helps

Here is a link that might be useful: rehydrating and reviving rootless phals

lorieu

I almost did in my very first orchid. I didn't realize the water was running right through the potting material leaving the roots with little water. They plant was dehydrating. The light goes off in my head when I see the leaves getting limp. I soaked the poor thing in a pan of warm water to the pot rim several times a few days apart. It plumped up again and was fine.

However, before you try that make sure you're not dealing with rotted roots from too much water - depending on what the plant is potted in.

You are right, greenhouser. It could simply be not enough water, especially since they were in someone else's care for two weeks.

Whichever it is, soaking the leaves in warm water will help rehydrate them.