Rapid yellowing of Phal leaves

[Tukatuka]

Hi everyone,

We are in Indonesia and we have a Phalaenopsis that we have had for over a year. It is tied to a tree and after many months it has finally attached at least 3 healthy juicy fat roots on the tree trunk and had around 7 leaves. No blooms, but I suspect that's due to lack of sun.

Problem is within the last week, the bottom leaf turned yellow over 2 days and dropped off. I know Phals do this, but unlike my other Phals whose leaves turn yellow and dry before it fall off, this one is still juicy. And to make matters more worrying, the second bottom leaf started to turn yelloq very quickly too. Another leaf started to turn yellow at the edges and I snipped the yellow part of before it can spread. The body feels fine and the plant overall looks alright to me.

Is this still considered normal?

Thank you

[Jenn4a]

It may just be me, but in that photo the green "root" looks like a curly spike.
I don't really know what to suggest about the yellowing; I don't have enough experience to know for sure. If it's fast paced, maybe spraying the plant with fungicide could help?

[Tukatuka]

Hi,

No, you are right, that is indeed an old spike that I haven't cut short enough.

It's very humid in Indonesia so we regularly spray with fungicide at least once a week.

Any other ideas?

Thank you

[WhiteRabbit]

[lotis146]

When you say the leaf was still plump what do you mean? Do you mean it was totally yellow but still "moist" to some extent? They will fall off before they're "dried out". Typically leaves that are dying naturally on my Phals fall off once they've yellowed completely, they almost never dry out all the way before they do.

Perhaps it's adjusting now that it has attached to the tree? I would say keep an eye on it. If yet another leaf begins to yellow then I might worry more. It's not getting water in the crown is it?

[Tukatuka]

Hi,

It does get water on the crown because of natural rain and the plant being outside. But the body and crown feels firm and are a heatlhy shade of green.

I have had Phals in a pot that I carefully water die of crown rot, where the whole body slowly erodes with a black lesion. In that particular plant the leaves also starts to drop like this current case, which is why I keep checking the body for any evidence of softness.

Regarding the rain and water in crowns, isnt this what happens naturally in forests? This plant has adapted to this by slanting its leaves downward, it looks like it may topple over.

Should I spray it with anything? What if another leaf yellows?

Thank you

[tarev]

To me, if it is just the lower leaves, it may just be natural leaf die down, since you say also that the main plant seems firm.

Sometimes, the plant may be slowly trying to redirect its energy to a new growth..maybe some more new roots then a new leaf, so it will start dropping, its older, lower leaves too.