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phal with stunted roots...Cause?

16 years ago

I have a NOID Phal from HD (purchased in early fall) that recently began showing signs of possible root rot (wrinkled leaves) since it was finished flowering and in need of new media I unpotted it. To my surprise there was no sign of rotted roots instead all the roots were stunted as if they had stopped growing when they reached an inch or so long. There are no active growing tips to be seen. I gave it a good soak in superthrive and KLN and will hope for the best but my concern is what caused this? There is no sign of any critters in the pot. this phal is in a south window with a 55w 5000K CFL temps are in the 68-70 range, humidity about 30%.

Larissa

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Comments (4)

albertan
16 years ago
I have no idea what caused stunted roots, but soaking in superthrive AND KLN is overkill.They are both hormones which should be used sparingly at recommended dosage (Read instructions). Too frequent or strong doses can produce distortion of blooms. On second thought, have you by any chance been using them in your regular fertilizing program?
singingirl96
16 years ago
I'm curious, what does a stunned root look like?
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The fact that it was blooming in November seems to suggest it may have been imported and now is a bit confused as to its seasons. As you have probably noticed from other Phals, they mostly grow in phases. First phase is root growth. If they are getting sufficient food and water, the next phase is leaf growth and they will put out several new leaves quickly (Phals do not grow leaves all year round) and then, after the leaves reach about full-size, the plant will start its flower spikes. After blooming, the plants will generally rest for a bit and not do much of anything. Then, it starts over with new root growth. I don't think you set back your plant by repotting it unless a number of live roots were damaged. Phals do not generally mind being repotted at any growth phase as long as the roots are undamaged. Your plant will catch up and start producing leaves shortly, and the next thing you know, some spikes will be starting, hopefully by mid-fall to early winter (my Phal hybrids don't spike until spring here because the greenhouse is too cool for their liking in winter). Nobby's Amy is a beautiful Phal. I have been tempted to buy one -- if I had room.
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Hey, t-bred. Congrats on your super-phal. All that activity and vigor -- make sure it doesn't follow you out of the room :) Like CJ I'd like to know it's name, too. Some species of phal do keiki like mad. But it's funny you bumped this thread today. I was going to look for it to bump, too. My P Salu Spot that I mentioned earlier on this thread that put out two small leaves in a few weeks last summer after a long bloom that only now were starting to lengthen and that nevertheless was healthy, with good roots, and quite a vigorous plant all around has a spike several inches long on it. Just saw it last night. So if yours is Super-Phal, I think I'll call my Salu Spot "Satisfactory Phal" -- not Super, but very good indeed :)
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Yes on pictures! Get maxi-crop. It is an organic root stimulator. Find it on the web. use once a week for 6 weeks then once every 2 weeks. Can be added to fertilizer. I get the home depot stuff, Orchid plus, not the bloom booster. Get a spray bottle and mist the roots in the air daily. What is the humidity?
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lwowk
Original Author
16 years ago
I do not use the ST and KLN on a regular basis I keep that for my "rescues" (I tend to feel bad for the ones on the discount racks and try to save them.. Many are now doing very nicely and flowering) and for when I am transplanting a plant in the garden. But I also have many orchids bought at regular price which are healthy and mature. I thought that this particular orchid was one of them. :(
Since the only new growth I saw on this plant was extra branches on its spike I think the roots had been like this before purchasing it. I am not in the habit of repotting healthy plants as soon as they are purchased so this was the first time I saw the roots. The phal had been potted up twice before by the nursey (there were three different colored layers of very tight sphag.) Since it was in a green plastic pot there was no way to see all the roots i had figured that the small section of the roots that I could see when I poked my finger into the pot was indicative of good healthy roots as was the upper condition of the plant which had nice thick leaves and two flower spikes. I tend to be an under waterer not an over waterer and for the new plants I use a skewer to check when to water. So I was very surprised to see wrinkled leaves. Unfortunately I can not currently post a picture because I don't have a working camera.

Larissa
howard_a
16 years ago
It kind of sounds to me like the questions have been answered. I have seen phals like this and always they have been underlit. However, low temperatures can also do this. So can underwatering. So we may never know exactly what ran this particular plant down but we know how to fix it: lots of everything that phals are supposed to have and call it good. Also agree, ST and KLN is redundant and possibly harmful. Either alone, as a pick me up is probably just fine to do. I used to swear by ST as "the fix" when potting up a rescue.

H

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