Cutting off leaf

[quiltergal]

I usually let my orchids decide when the time is right to drop a leaf. Mine aren't show quality so it doesn't matter to me if they have one ugly leaf. I figure it's easier on the plant than doing surgery.

[Oscarman]

I believe in letting my plants drop leaves naturally - unless some malady is the cause and intervention is required to prevent catastrophe.

Phal leaves dry fairly rapidly and then separate from the main stem very cleanly - why mess with them.

Anytime you cut a plant there is the potential risk of spreading virus.....why cut if you don't have to?

[weng]

Dave is right. Cutting an old leaf off leaves an open wound for bacterial & fungal infections. There is also a risk of spreading virus from contaminated utensils.

Epiphytic orchids grow on trees without access to much nutrients. So the plants have evolved to be thrifty. They scavange essential nutrients from the old leaves before abscission (a process by which the leaves are dropped naturally).

I would never remove a dying leaf until it lifts off gently... not unless it is needed for a show. The judges don't like yellowing leaves!

Weng

[Helen]

Okay, I'm going to be very patient. It's very yellow and now drying out. So, I'll wait it out. Thanks to everyone for the great response on my question.

[mi xiao]

hello all-
i have a question for everyone along these lines.

how does the cycle work for plants losing leaves, growing roots etc? or is it totally random?

i have a phal that i've been desperately waiting for it to grow new roots after some rather large drama.
it was bought by my WBH (way better half) as a gift for vday (valentine's, not victory). turns out it was infected with thrip, which in turn infected ALL my other plants, except my jade.
i tossed everything that was infected as it was impossible to clear all the plants from those mean beasties. i tried and it broke my heart to throw them out!

i stripped down the orchid into bare roots and used a bug spray, which was a success.
a lot of roots died and the leaves never came back.

i gathered up the muster to cut the wilty leaves (after some careful studying on this site!), and have been pleasently surprised with some (read: more than one) new roots.
it has also developed a new leaf.

is there a correlation between cutting the leaves and the new growth, or is this a pure coincidence? the timeline has been over 6 months of stunted growth.

i have been diligent with spritzing every day, and giving it sunlight one small part of the day.

any hints? any correlation?

thanks!!

[weng]

Hi Mi Xiao,

You should join the Bonsai group!

I am not aware of any scientific studies in which leaves/roots are removed in an attempt to force new growth.

New growth is normally associated with growing conditions like the weather and not by removal of the leaves.

In fact, I would suggest that removal of leaves and roots would have caused a significant set back to the timing of the new growth as well as the quality of growth.

Weng

PS. Thrips are airborne, summer invaders. So they may have simply flown in through the windows. Watch out for them next summer.

[Ray]

Different plants have different "growth cycles". Some are seasonal, some respond to temperatures, and there are bound to be others. A few examples:

Most phals originate from equatorial regions, so seasonality is minimized. They tend to grow quickly when kept very warm, and slow the growth and focus on blooming when grown cool.

Cattleyas tend to be linked to photoperiod, hence seasonality is more prominent in their growth and blooming.

Many dens are also seasonal, but it tends to be more related to both temperature, and wet- and dry seasonal changes, and how that affects the availability of nutrition, rather than day length.

All of those are very general, and there are - as with everything orchids - lots of exceptions.

[mi xiao]

Originally Posted by weng

In fact, I would suggest that removal of leaves and roots would have caused a significant set back to the timing of the new growth as well as the quality of growth.

Weng

PS. Thrips are airborne, summer invaders. So they may have simply flown in through the windows. Watch out for them next summer.

hello- the leaves that were there were pretty sick, and i honestly didn't see any benefit at all in keeping them...who knows. i'll have to wait and see huh?

the thrips showed up in the wintertime, the beginning march i believe.
i will have an eye on the window to prevent their return.