Questioni bought my phal about 5 months ago. it was bloomed already. after all the flowers are dead. i cut off the spike (which i leant from youtube and other info from the Internet) thinking it will regrow from the nod. but it didn't. the spike is now dead and dried so i have cut it off completely. and all the leaves are wrinkled. but 2 days ago i saw a new leaf growing! i was so happy. What can i do to get my leafs back into a healthy condition??
AnswerDOLL, it is helpful (and sometimes essential) to repot a phalaenopsis in fresh orchid potting mix after each flowering. This fresh potting mix provides a fresh environment for new roots to grow and thrive. After obtaining the fresh orchid potting mix, unpot your plant and remove most of the old potting mix from the roots. You will notice that some of the old roots are "mushy" and have lost substance (healthy roots are firm and turn green when wet). Remove the old mushy roots as these are dead. Healthy roots are essential to support new leaf growth. When you repot, use a pot with lots of drainage holes. Sometimes, if the old pot provides good drainage, you can repot back into it. Otherwise use a new pot to repot your plant. Do not allow the pot to sit in water. Ideal temperatures for phalaenopsis growth are between 65-80 degrees F. They can tolerate higher or lower temperatures for a few days. They cease growing below 55 degrees F. and a combination of cool temperatures and a wet root zone will lead to root rot. Provide rapid air movement to cool the leaves above 85 degrees F.. Phalaenopsis are house plants and prefer an east location where they receive morning sunlight.
