Question
We have two orchids, and they are very special to us. But lately our phals seem to be dying. We started with one phal and it was perfectly fine for about a year. Now it hasn't blommed in months, but it still produces leaves. How do we get it to bloom again? Also, our other phal's leaves is starting to turn yellow and its blooms are starting to wilt. How do we save this other phal?

Answer
Hello Jennifer,

Sorry to hear about your two phals.  Hope I can help you with them with some suggestions.  

First the one with leaves turning yellow.  If the yellowing leaf is only the bottom leaf, there may or may not be anything to worry about.  Phals. will lose a bottom leaf from time to time as they age.  But, if several leaves are yellowing, that could indicate some problems that need your immediate attention before you lose the entire plant.  Many times the cause for multiple leaves to suddenly turn yellow is water caught within the leaf base.  If you water the phals. from above, it is possible for water to end up at the base of the leaf and if it is still there over night can be a prime breeding environment for fungus.  You can tell if fungus is present by looking at the base of the leafs, if you can see a black sooty substance there it is fungus.  Once the leaf begins to yellow or become limp, it is too late to save that leaf.  Hopefully the other leaves are still okay but it would be a good idea to check for the presence of fungus, especially at the topmost leaf where the next new leaf will emerge.  If that area has fungus present, it may be too late to save the phal as there will not be any new leafs growing and the phal will slowly die.  

The phal that is doing fine will produce blooms in good time.  Phals normally produce blooms once a year, usually in late winter to spring.  Also, many times a phal may skip one year of blooming when moved to a new home environment, taking a year to become acclimated to your home.  So be patient with this phal.  As long as it continues to produce new leafs and the new leafs are as large or larger than the older leafs, the phal is growing happily.  But, if the new leafs end up being smaller than the older leafs, that could be a sign that something is wrong with it.  By the way, many people allow their phals to experience several weeks of temperatures in the mid 50 F's in late fall to help initiate the bloom cycle.  At the same time in the fall, mix a teaspoon of epsom salt in a quart of water and water the phal with it a week apart for three waterings.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck and good growing.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.