Wilting leaves on a Phal Orchid

[bayswaterorchid]

Hi all,
When I bought one of my phals back in July, this one had really healthy sturdy leaves maintaining an upright position but after flowering for a few months, it has lost its charm and the leaves became droopy.

Before:




After:


This orchid was originally potted in moss/soil mix and still managed bloom happily until I found a few mealybugs in the pot. I believe the leaves began wilting even before this stage. Since I have repotted it into a bark mix and sprayed with bug oil every 2weeks it has a lost one leaf (as below). Unfortunately, it has been a few weeks and still there is no sign of leaves standing up. Can anyone please tell me if the plant is looking ok? If it is not doing alright any suggestions please?

I have been watering my orchids every 7 days and the humidity of the house fluctuates anywhere from 50% to 75%.
Any opinions are welcome!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Bottom leaves wilt and die away naturally. This orchid appears normal and healthy to me.

cheers,
BD

[ORCHIDJOE]

Hi I have looked after and revived many of friends phals, my experience is that once the leaves wither they do not pick up again but remain the same and eventually yellow and drop off, however the new growth is normally strong and healthy, your plant looks OK,
Joe

[bayswaterorchid]

Thanks for your quick replies.

Great to know that the orchid is doing ok. What would be the cause of leaves wilting? Mealybugs or spending all its' energy on blooming ?

[kspalding]

Many things cause wilting. Mealy, aging, weather, water, lack of water, etc.... That is what makes orchids so precious is their sensitivity. Once the leaves are gone they are gone. Pluck them away and make room for new growth. As long as the bugs are removed your plant can live in peace.

[Anteater]

Did the leaves get softer or somewhat flimsy when they started drooping like that?

[kspalding]

Hey Anteater love the name . It doesn't appear (if u look @ the 3rd photo) that the roots are over buried or the leaves. So probably not the problem.

[Anteater]

Hey Anteater love the name . It doesn't appear (if u look @ the 3rd photo) that the roots are over buried or the leaves. So probably not the problem.

What problem are you referring to?

[bayswaterorchid]

Anteater: No, the leaves weren't flimsy they just wilted over the past few months.

Kspalding: Yes, I have buried all of this orchid's aerial roots back into the pot when doing the repotting but did not bury the stem into its bark mix.

[kspalding]

Usually dark flimsy (sometimes meshy) leaves are often caused by overburying the roots. That can eventually lead to yellowing and falling leaves as well. That was what I thought maybe you were getting at. Sorry if I was wrong.