deformed Phal.

[Rick Friesen]

This Phal has been in bloom since Christmas (realy, no kidding). I can't belive how long this thing is blooming. I noticed when the last one opened that it didn't look right. Check it out.

[Cjcorner]

Mine do that when I forget and water them with root hormone in the mix. Sometimes when I'm watering I make two buckets of "food" with differing strengths and ingrediants. For the struggling rescues I include rooting hormone and unfortunately I have been educated recently that by letting the rescues drip onto the others, I am inadvertantly messing up some of my blooms. Some are pretty cool looking though deformed.
Connie

[Brutal_Dreamer]

That is strange, but beautiful in its own right.

Cheers,
BD

[sadie]

Very strange, but kinda cool too.


So why does rooting hormone mess up the flowers? I hadn't heard that before, but I'm very curious. When do you use the rooting hormone on phals--I guess after they are finished blooming but still growing?

[Cjcorner]

I have this urge to save Phals.....most die, but some thrive. This local guy just absolutely is cruel, if they don't sell he sets them in this back corner where their weeds take over and by the time I get them usually they don't have any potting stuff left, just weed roots sucking away their water and food. Many have stunted roots or I have to cut off lots of badly rotted roots....superthrive, just a few drops, encourages root growth. (for rot there is also a systemic antifungal such as physan, or for bugs an organic systemic bug killer) Also; if you order plants online, part of waking up a dried out orchid is stimulating the roots. I usually see results right away. Roots and flowers use two completely different hormones and when mixed you get funky results.
Hoped this helps

[Gin]

I have had a flower like that usually at the end of a blooming season , I think the plant is ready for a rest when I see one . Gin