First phal - new leaf growth

[NTN]

I've always been worried about the health of my phal because I've never owned an orchid before. Recently a new leaf sprouted and has grown a good 2 inches in length. Can I take it as a sign that it's doing well and that I can keep caring for it as I have done so far?
Thanks.

[RosieC]

New leaves are always a good sign that something is going well.

I find them so exciting, especially on orchids I'm not sure how to grow.

[jrodpad]

NTN - yes, new leaf growth and new root growth are a sign that the orchid is generally doing well. With phals, you always want the new leaf to wind up being larger than the leaves that precede it. A new leaf that stops growing and is significantly smaller than the preceding leaves is a sign of trauma or less than optimal cultural conditions. Keep an eye on the new leaf relative to the others and let's see how big she gets.

For a true measure of a phal's relative health, gently remove from its pot and examine the roots. A vigorous mass of plump, healthy green roots is an unequivocal sign of good health.

You can always post pics - people on the OB love 'em and can generally give you a good sense of how the orchid is fairing.

Good luck!

- J

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by jrodpad

For a true measure of a phal's relative health, gently remove from its pot and examine the roots. A vigorous mass of plump, healthy green roots is an unequivocal sign of good health.

Sometimes a simple change in location will cause a leaf to have a different size. For instance, you could be giving the plant all that it needs but if it grows in a higher light situation, the leaf may be smaller, but much thicker than a leaf that is larger but thinner. Both will likely allow the plant to continue on and flower. In general, I agree that a growing plant that is larger and larger is a sure sign of good healthy, but I have some phals with small, thicker leaves since I moved to a new home, that have out-performed themselves when the leaves were larger and thinner-- in terms of blooming and number of new leaves in a season. Just my 2 cents.