Question
Hi Jim, thank you for your response.  Since you emailed back I have started to water the orchid two times a week since the problem could be the new potting material being much drier than the old.  As for the leaves, they seem to have a mind of their own, and a few go several different angles, but they don't seem weak.  However, it has two long flower spikes coming out of the plant that sprouted out about a month ago, and today I just noticed that one of the spikes seems to be "pinched" just in one section of the spike, and over the last few days has become much shorter than the other, thriving spike.  Any idea why this would be?  I have never seen this before on an orchid - do you think the spike will snap out of it and repair itself in order to keep growing and eventually bloom?  Any thoughts on this would be much appreciated.
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Hi Jim,

I have an phalenopsis that is going on its second year in my home, in the same location, and is also blooming for the third time.  The plant has always been extremely healthly, and I recently repotted it since it was sharing space with another (which was the way I bought it).  I repotted it about a month or so ago, and it looked fine not long after.  Recently though, I have noticed that a couple of the leaves (not ones on the bottom, but the ones in the mid-area) are starting to wrinkle.  The light has not changed, nor has the watering schedule.  The leaves remain thick and green, but there are definite wrinkles forming on more than one leaf.  Can you tell me what the problem may be?  I live in Colorado, so obvioulsy there is no humidity, but the orchid has been in this living condition with no changes (except now with much healthier potting material) for over two years.  Please help!
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Hi Jessica,

The problem you described is a new one for me.  Usually, when leaves begin to wrinkle, it starts with the lower leaves and gradually goes up a leaf at a time.  But, before this starts to happen, the leaves will start to wilt and droop down.  Are the other leaves droopy?  

What could cause leaves to droop and wrinkle?  The usual causes are too much or too little water, both show up with the same leaf affect.  Since you recently repotted it into fresh new potting media, it could be that it is drying out faster than the old broken down media which tended to hold water longer.  

Another possible cause could be an insect infestation.  Have you checked the underside of the leaves?  If there are mealybugs or scale present, that could also be a cause for droopy and wrinkled leaves as both insects suck the fluids out of the leaves.  

Lastly, a lack of humidity can cause some droopiness of leaves but usually not wrinkles.  To increase humidity, you can try filling a plastic bowl or tray with small pebbles and keep it filled with water, as the water evaporates it will provide some humidity around the phal.  Just make sure the bottom of the pot is not sitting in the water.  

Hope this has been of some help.  If you have any more information or have additional questions, write back and I'll try to help with them.  Good luck.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.

Answer
Hi again Jessica,

Leaves growing out in different directions might be caused by the plant being moved around and the light exposure being different.  

Hey, that's great it is putting out a couple of new flower spikes!  Yeah!!!  As for the pinched looking spike, there are many theories for what causes it but so far no one has really come up with an answer.  One of the better theories is that it is caused by an insect bite.  The unfortunate part is that once it becomes pinched it probably will not straighten out.  You can help a little by tying the spike to a support stake, but be careful to not break the spike while tying it.  It is best to do any spike tying during the warmest time of the day as the spike is more flexible when warm.  

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.  

Jim in San Jose, Ca.