Hard, yellow leaf on cattleya

[Maru777]

Hello everyone,
I have a cattleya that I am a bit worried about. I’ve only had it for about half a year and it seemed happy enough, it grew a new pseudobulb that looked healthy and bigger than the rest, but when I got it it was not in the greatest of shapes so the old structures never looked all that great. I did not worry much because it was growing but now one of the old leaves has turned yellowish-white and it seems also hard to the touch, not the flexible hardness of a healthy leaf. That leaf was always a bit lighter green bit worried about this new development. I don’t have many cattleya orchids so not really sure if I am doing something wrong with this one. Should I cut this leaf?

Thank you!

[aliceinwl]

I don’t have a ton of Cattleya experience but it looks like the plant is getting ready to drop that leaf. As long as everything else looks good, I’d just let nature take its course.

[Roberta]

I agree, force of nature. They do shed old leaves now and then. The leafless pseudobulbs are still reserves for the plant.

[rbarata]

Just follow the rhizome...the first pseudobulb without a leaf (and usually the smallest) is the oldest, then follow to the next (in the photo I think it doesn't have a leaf either), then follow to the next (which seems to be the one you're talking about) and you'll notice that there is a pattern: the older pbulbs drop their leaves in sequence as they get older.

[Maru777]

Thank you so much! It is the oldest one that still had two leaves so hopefully it is just old. This puts my mind at ease - I was afraid I was messing up. Thank you, everyone!!!