possible mutant situation :) phal growth spurt

another luxury problem - got a phal throwing a leaf that's better than twice the size of previous growth, and a lower leaf appears to be splitting where it covers the stem, just before the axil. doesn't appear to have the shape of a spike or a root, only that it got too big for the plant, like it's flexing a muscle and tearing it's shirt...

so i watch for rot i suppose, take care in watering...anybody seen this and did it create special problems? can i expect to lose the lower leaf? just figuring i'll be somewhat proactive and ask now so I'm not concerned later...

(btw, i know pics would be better, i'm working on it )

Pete, you could be describing one of my phals; it's doing the same thing. It's been in this condition for quite a while; if it were going to cause a problem, I suspect it would have already. The small lower leaf (actually, it's the middle leaf) is nearly split in half, but it's still green. I'm not doing anything special to it. I figure if it's healthy enough to grow a great big leaf, it's healthy enough to lose the smaller split leaf. I've got another big phal with two of its middle leaves (the biggest two, with a 17" span) being pushed and ripped away by the huge spikes and roots. I know, terrible problem, right? The leaves are half torn away and have been for months, and they're only now starting to look a little paler than the other leaves. When they go, they go. It's a huge plant; it'll be fine.

I wouldn't worry too much. I find the less I worry about the orchids, the better they grow.

Liz

LOL! Liz hit it on the head. A lot of times that'll happen when a root or spike is about to grow at that location, and I've never once had a problem with rots in a situation where the leaf split of its own accord. No worries, Pete....

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Louis J. Aszod

thank you both

i usually do pretty well with not worrying much, however i do like to be prepared...and 'my plant is getting too big' is one long oxymoron

if this keeps on, i'll be putting my non-orchid plants up for adoption...

p

Of course you could systematically kill them like I "accidentally" did

You still have non-orchid plants? Heck, I realized the other day I've not even room for a Christmas tree! No idea what I'll do next year, when we'll actually be home for X-mas.

This phal is loopy. The leaf on 'roids has flopped over forward, looking like a bassethound's ear. And another has started sprouting ...

Maybe it's genes come from the southern hemisphere and it's confused.

p

Heather,

I've got the X-mas tree solution - my apartment is too small for a real Christmas tree, so my mom sent me a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree last year, from one of the mail-order plant places. It's an Alberta Spruce, so after Christmas I repotted it in a larger pot and stuck it outside. It' comes in for Christmas (and the winter), but really doesn't take up much space. That ought to allow you at least another dozen plants...well, you like the big ones - maybe 6-8 more.

Julie

Pete,

I've got a phal that's gotten creative with its new leaf formation. I've found when brand new, the leaves are very soft and pliable. I used stakes to "guide" the aberrant ones into semi-respectable positions. As they mature they stiffen up and you can remove the stakes.

Julie

Phals seem to make the "rules" as they go along.
A noid Phal i bought for my mum has been in bloom for nearly 8 months
It has only got 2 blooms left , it hasn,t grown a root or a leaf but it has a new spike which will bloom in the next month or so.

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Who the smeg is Dwayne Dibbley ?