Why Phalaenopsis (moth orchid) leaves grow crooked and uneven, and how to fix it

If you grow Phalaenopsis orchids, you may have noticed that your orchid's leaves grow every which way, some with bent necks, some higher on one side and lower on the other, looking terribly uneven. Actually, this isn't a big problem, but understanding the cause is the only way to get it growing neat and looking pleasing.

Why do the leaves grow unevenly? The most common cause is "reaching for light." Phalaenopsis orchids grow toward whatever light there is, so if you always keep the pot facing one direction, the leaves will strain toward the light source, and over time they naturally become crooked. That pot at the neighbor's place is a case in point: kept on the left side of the windowsill year-round, its leaves all leaned to the right, as if someone had bent them.

Then there's improper watering. Some growers always water to one side, or the potting medium absorbs water unevenly, so the roots grow strong on one side and weak on the other, and the leaves naturally lean along with them. Also, if the plant isn't positioned straight when repotting, the roots get crammed into a clump in the pot, and the leaves get pushed crooked too.

In addition, lopsided fertilizing can cause trouble too. For example, if you always fertilize on one side of the pot, the leaves on that side take up more nutrients and grow fast and large, while the other side can't keep up, making the whole plant look uneven. And if a leaf has been injured, say broken by wind or hit by something, it may also grow crooked after recovering.

So what should you do when the leaves grow crooked? Simple: first, rotate the pot. Turn the pot 180 degrees every week so the leaves get light from every direction, and they will gradually grow toward the center.

If they're too badly crooked for pot rotation alone, you can use a few small tools to hold them in place. Find several thin bamboo skewers, gently insert them into the potting medium, and loosely tie the crooked leaves to the skewers with soft string, not too tight, leaving room for growth. Once the leaves grow firm, untie them and they won't spring back.

You also need to change your watering and fertilizing habits. When watering, go around the edge of the pot in a circle so the potting medium absorbs water evenly; when fertilizing, don't always pour in one spot. It's best to dilute it and slowly pour it around the pot's edge, making sure the roots in every corner get their

There's also a little trick: if a leaf is really unsightly but you can't bear to cut it, you can mist the underside of the leaf in the evening, then gently push the leaf in the right direction. Do this for several days and the leaf will slowly remember its new posture. But never force it, as Phalaenopsis leaves are brittle and easily broken.

In fact, a slightly uneven Phalaenopsis doesn't affect blooming or health, so just adjust it if it really bothers you. Sometimes a crooked look has a natural charm of its own.