Is my phal growing two new leaves at once?

[Liz]

Hi all,
I just saved a phal from no-roots-left-root-rot. Yea! It had one good sized leaf (8") and was growing a leaf when it almost died, and that leaf stalled. I then put it in sphagnum, increased the light after a bit, and I knew the plant was coming back when that little leaf started to grow again.

Then, it started a new leaf about a month ago... that one is now about the size of a quarter. Today, I just saw that *another* new leaf is poking out.

So, what's up? Is the quarter-sized new leaf going to keep growing, or is that it? Is the plant just so thrilled to be alive that it's growing another at the same time? I thought they grew one leaf, hopefully spike, and then grow another new leaf. Although I've been wrong more than once...

Liz

[Jmoney]

things in trouble that are then saved tend to do this. regardless of the size of the last full leaf, the new ones range from small to miniscule and can arise in quick succession. I don't think more than the most recent 2 are growing at any given time, though. over time, with good culture, the leaves will gradually increase in size.

[Liz]

Jason, do you mean the little new leaves it is growing now will increase in size, or as the plant gets healthier and grows, the new leaves it will continue to produce will grow bigger?

[Jmoney]

Both. The new leaves on a plant like this will be small, but if all goes well, it will keep putting out more leaves. These will steadily increase in size if the plant is on the road to recovery.

[Liz]

So, is it acting like a seedling? In other words, it will have to grow back to blooming size over the next year or two? (Please don't say "or more" - I'm not very patient.)

Thanks~

[Jmoney]

sorry to break it to you, but the rate of recovery is very variable. it may only be a couple years for a phal if it's not too bad, but for paphs, some of my rescue plants have taken years and years.

my advice is to get more plants while this one recovers.