Question
Hi, Jim--

Writing about a phalaenopsis orchid.  It's currently starting its flowering cycle (over the last two years, about one a year, ~4 wks).  Since December, it's had a bit of a tramatic life: winters in DC mean central heat and dry air.  Some time around Christmas, the poor guy toppled out of its pot, presumably from too little moisture.  Repotting was straightforward, flower stems came out (along with a multitude of new air roots).  The problem?  All four leaves are green, limp, and vertically crinkled.  A fifth leaf (the topmost) has nearly died.  2.5 of 9 blooms are currently open.  I suspect that the orchid got too dry, then overwatered in an attempt to compensate (and possibly over-fed).  My question is...what can I do to best encourage leaf growth AND support the blooming, in a attempt to keep this plant around for another cycle?

Answer
Hi Chris,

Your phalaenopsis has been through quite a bit, hasn't it.  From your description of what it currently looks like indicates that it is not taking up much water; i.e., limp and vertically crinkled leaves.  Phals use their leaves as a reservoir to store water, when the plant is either kept too dry or is not able to take up water, the plant begins to use what has been stored.  

When it toppled out, did you notice most or all of the roots that were in the pot were soft and mushy or were they hard, shriveled and dry looking?  If soft and mushy, that would indicate overwatering.  If hard, shriveled and dry would indicate it was kept too dry for too long.  Either of these can cause the leaves to look as they do.  

There is hope since you said there are lots of new air roots.  But what worries me is that you also mention that the topmost leaf (the crown) has almost died.  Phals produce new leafs from the crown and if there is something wrong with it, the outlook is not good.  Look inside the crown at the base of the topmost leaf to see if you can detect a black sooty area, if there is that would indicate fungus damage and the crown is dead.  How does this happen?  Water left overnight inside the crown from watering the phal.  

My recommendation would be to remove the flower stem, place it in a bud vase with water, add a dash of sugar or 7-Up soda and hopefully the remaining buds will open.  Why?  Orchids have a survival gene that causes them to produce a flower stem as a last resort in the hope a flower will be pollinated and produce seeds, thus keeping the specie around for the future.  Leaving the stem on the phal will cause it to continue to go downhill, removing it might (a big might) save it.  

Lastly, I would recommend repotting it after removing the stem.  Remove any dead roots as described above then repot it.  Keep it in a warm shady area (above 60 F), water when the potting mix becomes barely moist, try to create some added humidity around it by placing the pot atop a plastic tray filled with small pebbles and keep some water in the tray.  Keep it out of direct drafts from the heater vents.  

I hope your phal survives.  Good luck and good growing.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.