Alas poor leaf, I knew it well

[Henry]

So do I cut this dying leaf off or let the plant do its own thing.
This has recently been repotted and is recuperating.

Before After

So I feel the dying leaf is just a burden.
So far I've read both ways, with one leaving me thinking
I should cut the leaf off to let the rest of the plant grow easier.
Merci

[Mountaineer370]

From what I can see in the photos, that is the lower-most, or oldest, leaf. It is natural for your Phalaenopsis to periodically shed these old leaves as it grows. I never cut them off but let them go through the process of totally drying up and falling off naturally. This could take several weeks. Common wisdom says that, as the leaf is dying and drying up, it "recycles" useful nutrients back into the plant. If you cut it off, you will have a fresh wound on green tissue, which is a much bigger risk to the plant.

Edit: Of course, if the leaf was diseased in some way, that would be a different situation.

[Waterdog111]

This is good advise its what I do.

[Henry]

"Edit: Of course, if the leaf was diseased in some way, that would be a different situation."

Thank you, it still had the old Sphagnum root ball, which was black and yucky.

So I think it's not from any sort of disease, but from being well past the time to repot.

Cool, I'll imagine it recycling nutrients.

Merci,

[Roberta]

If there is any green, it's still photosynthesizing. When the plant is done with it, it'll drop naturally. Totally agree with Mountaineer, don't cut.

[Henry]

Woo hoo! This is a wonderful place!
A probably totoally obvious question gets helpful replies.
Truely a rare gem on the internet!

[Roberta]

If you asked the question, it wasn't obvious! The only questions unworthy of answer are the ones that aren't asked! So keep asking, that's how one learns, nobody is born knowing this stuff.