No signs of new growth for 1 year now.

[CNR]

Can anyone offer reasons as to why an orchid plant (Phal) wont show signs of new growth? I rescued this dying plant over a year ago. I’ve managed to save approximately four other like-kind orchids who are all doing very well now. Apart from the roots – which are plentiful and vibrant green – there is no sign of progress over the last 9-12 months. It sits approximately four feet away from a south facing window with defused light, and gets watered only when the growing medium nearly dries out. Any help would be much appreciated. -Thank you

[aesir22]

I'm not sure, but do paphs need a considerable temperature dip at night compared to day to encourage them to spike? 10F-15F?

[Ron-NY]

EEEK....I do not see an active growth area and it appears that this Phal's last spike grew terminally, from the crown, the area where new leaf growth should come from. So, it can not grow another leaf. When this happens the only hope is the development of basal keikis.

[CNR]

Thank you. Ron-NY, I suspected the same thing. I’m only a beginner, but when I saw that the last stem pierced the center of the plant, I didn’t think that was a good thing... So sad, but I’ll hope for the best.

[aesir22]

I have read another member say he has had this happen quite a few times and the plant has kept growing but not as base keiki's, just as normal

[bench72]

Hi CNR, Welcome to Orchidtalk. If you're in the northern hemisphere, then you're just going onto spring and hence the warmer weather and the longer days... both of these are stimulus for growth. so you may find this the time it will do something.

now, the other thing is breeding of the plant, some plants are just really slow growers and unless you have optimum temps and humidity are just not going to be as vigorous as other plants. Do you have a name for this Phal? If you do, we may be able to trace it's ancestry and work out why this might be a slower growing plant.

Finally, the uppermost leaf doesn't appear to be fully mature and so the plant could be putting all it's energy into maturing this leaf prior to putting out another one.

You could help it along by giving the plant a weak fertiliser feed (i love organic ferts, so try any of the seaweed or carp based ferts, or if u have a worm farm, the juice from this process).

Good luck and glad you have come to join Orchidtalk!

[bench72]

hmm... should have waited till Ron's reply

i've heard keiki-paste grow have helped in getting plants like these to basal keiki.

[CNR]

Prior to re-potting 2 months ago, I was feeding the plant regularly with “Orchid Food” by Schultz… Since nothing was happening for nearly a 8 months, I replanted it in medium that has time-released fertilizer good for 90 days… Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the Phal. As for the top leaves, I actually cut them back half way. When I rescued the plant initially, the portion beyond where I made the cut, was completely rotten (yellow and black)... You're right though, the leaf pierced by the stem does look immature.

[Becky15349]

Sorry, but this plant probably isn't worth the effort, unless you really want to wait for a keiki, which may never happen. I don't mean to sound harsh, but its just the facts - it had a terminal spike, and that's usually the end of the plant unless it grows a keiki soon thereafter.

[smwboxer]

I'm gonna have to agree with Becky on this one. I count is as a goner and replace it.