Yellow Leaf midway up an otherwise very healthy Phal - Orchid Board

RosieC · #1 08-21-2009, 04:54 AM

Hi everyone,

I was shocked this morning to see a yellowed leaf half way up one of my Phals.

This Phal is my largest. It has 14 leaves, masses and masses of roots which hardly fit in the pot and currently has two massive flower spikes.

(See this link for a pic of some of it's flowers just now...
Picasa Web Albums - Rosie - Orchid Display)

But I'm really really worried about why this leaf has gone yellow.

If it was the bottom leaf I would not be so worried. If it was the one I partially broke while repotting a few months ago I would not be so worried (that one is still nice and green). But I can see no reason for this colour change. I'm pretty sure the leaf was fine last weekend when I watered this 'chid (I check the plants over every time I water them).

Sorry about the pic quality, I snapped them quick as I rushed out to work this morning. The sunshine is morning light, but it's not even been in that position recently but closer to the center of the room (so not sun-burn.)

I really hope there is not something seriously wrong with my Phal

but if there is I want to catch it quick. What should I be doing?

seamonkey · #2 08-21-2009, 11:56 AM

I've had phals do the same thing, and there was nothing wrong with them before or after the leaf came off. I wouldn't worry about it.

Ross · #3 08-21-2009, 01:25 PM

I wouldn't worry either.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 08-21-2009, 02:49 PM

Third the motion, don't worry about it, everything's fine.

That leaf is just done, probably because it's one of the smaller more malformed leaves and it's got roots growing out of that area.

13 or 14 leaves on a Phal means you've obviously done something right.

en3rmax · #5 08-21-2009, 03:59 PM

A leaf on my phal did the same thing, i just cut the bad leaf off and my phal was fine, you seen it in my pic's it's really heathy

nenella · #6 08-21-2009, 04:07 PM

I agree with all above Rosie, I wouldn't worry either.

RosieC · #7 08-21-2009, 05:48 PM

Thanks everyone, that's a big relief.

As I said before if it had been a bottom one I would not have worried.

Looking again tonight it does not look like the plant, where the leaf meets it, is at all affected. I gently pulled away part of the yellow leaf where it meets the stem and it was nice and green underneath.

Because this is my healthiest and largest Phal I really didn't want anything to go wrong with it.

seamonkey · #8 08-21-2009, 07:04 PM

We understand. I also freak out when I see anything I haven't seen before on one of my babies.