Yellow Stem on Phal - Page 3 - Orchid Board

Charlene · #21 06-14-2010, 07:49 AM

Good Morning

I repotted my orchid in Hoffman's and now I have a yellow leaf. I know yellow leaves are supposed to indicate not enough light, but this leaf is tucked under another one. Is it a light problem or repotting shock or something else--any suggestions. Should I just leave it on the plant or remove it?

camille1585 · #22 06-14-2010, 10:37 AM

That looks to be the lowest leaf, it which case it's probably normal yellowing that might have been sped up my the repotting shock. Phals will lose a bottom leaf once in a while. Usually when a leaf is lost a new one is appearing, or will appear in a few weeks. You can leave it alone, it will fall off on it's own when it's ready to go, probably in a few days.

Yellowing is not a sign of low light. Low light leads to leaves which are a gark glossy green. High light will lead to purplish tinges and generally a paler shade of green, although this can depend on the phal. I think the only time you'll see yellow is when it's losing leaves (normal leaf loss or other) or patches of yellow when it gets sunburn.

orchid-flowers · #23 06-14-2010, 04:29 PM

This yellowing of the leaf is nothing to worry about. As Camille already said, it will probably fall off in few days (do not try to tear it off by force) and the plant will continue to grow. As I can see the tip of the root is fresh and green and that is a good sign, that the root is in a good condition and the orchid is doing well!

Sign for low light conditions is also the leaf form. If it is somehow longer then the form of the older, lower, leafs and not well round, like the older, lower leafs, then this orchid is not receiving enough light. This form however depends on the specie or hybrid observed.

Charlene · #24 06-14-2010, 06:46 PM

Not worry about it--but worrying is one of the things I do best....Seriously, you two are my heroes. Thanks for talking me off the ledge

orchid-flowers · #25 06-15-2010, 02:37 PM

Thank you, Charlene! Could you post a picture of your Phalaenopsis taken from a side? I would like to see if there are any black spots on the side of the plant, on the axis of growth. Especially on the leaf that turned yellow. Just to be on the really safe side!

Charlene · #26 06-15-2010, 04:03 PM

Forgive me but I'm not sure what the axis of growth is. I think it is the stem from which the leaf grew, but all this is new jargon to me. Anyway, I'm attaching 3 pictures for you to look at. As you can see and, as you all predicted, the leaf is now completely yellow. If these pictures don't help, please let me know and I'll try to get a better angle. As you can see, directly on top of the leaf is a new root.

PS: the flower stem which I asked about before on this plant continues to dry out--again as predicted. You guys are smarter than a 5th grader

camille1585 · #27 06-15-2010, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlene

PS: the flower stem which I asked about before on this plant continues to dry out--again as predicted. You guys are smarter than a 5th grader

Maybe not smart, but experienced!

When you grow orchids for a few years you get to know what's normal and common. And OB is a great place to pick up info.

orchid-flowers · #28 06-16-2010, 01:01 PM

There is nothing black on the side of the plant as much as I can see. I just wanted to check, because yellowing of leafs can be caused by a disease called fusarium. It usually spreads from the bottom part of the plant to the top. There would have to be some black spots though! It is practically deadly and easy transferable to other plants, if it happens.

Charlene · #29 06-16-2010, 04:20 PM

I'm baaaack!

I repotted another orchid and some of the roots were black. Some of the roots had black places on them and then started to be green again. I've attached a picture of that. I removed all the dried out roots and repotted. What would cause the root to be black and then start to be green again?

Secondly, I did notice that this plant seemed to have a black spot on what I believe to be the growing axis. I've attached a picture of that too. From the top of the orchid everything looks good. It has several flowers and two buds. Again another picture.

Thirdly, I've heard that if you put mayonnaise on the leaves, it makes the leaves shiny and pretty. Is that healthy or should I save my mayo for the turkey sandwich?

camille1585 · #30 06-16-2010, 05:09 PM

If you see a segment of black on an otherwise green root it means that the velamen (thick spongelike tissue that surrounds the real root, which is the thin wiry thing in the center) has rotted. The root itself is still intact, and can keep growing. These roots usually keep growing for a while before dying off completely. In a phal with a healthy root system you would remove it, but in the case of one with poor roots it's best to leave it one as it helps support the plant until more roots appear.

For the black spot, I don't see it since the pic is a bit fuzzy. As long as it's not getting any bigger and stays the same there is nothing to worry about.

Mayo: Yes you can use it to shine up leaves, but you only use very very little. Put a small dab of it on a leaf and then take a soft cloth or paper towel to spread it and then then gently rub to buff it off. The leaf should look shinier, but should not feel greasy. If it does, even after a lot of rubbing, you used too much.
Lemon juice also works because the aciditly helps remove water marks. But usually for my plants I find that a quick cleaning with a damp cloth once in a while is more than enough to remove dust and get the leaves to shine.