Phal leaf turning yellow after new roots

[Ophiel]

Hello,

I'm still a novice with phals, having killed 4 in the past and learning progressively more from the forums on orchidboard, enough to troubleshoot and keep the remaining 3 alive.

One of them is a NOID phal that I've been growing for about a year. It's been doing relatively OK this whole time. I water once a week, and feed weak orchid food every other watering. No growth or anything since the last flowers dropped months ago.

Then just a month ago (spring in Australia), I was thrilled to see it sprout some roots and a new leaf at the same time! Then just last weekend, I noticed the lowest leaf turn yellow very rapidly. By today, it is almost completely yellow and droopy. All the other leaves seem fine, even the new one. Is this normal? Does this have anything to do with the 2 new roots growing right above the leaf? Should I be worried, and if so, what should I do?

Attached photo for reference:

[jcec1]

It is probably old age, the other leaves look healthy and the new roots are a good sign. How are the roots in the pot? If they are plump and healthy I would say you have nothing to worry about. The only thing I would change is I would put it in a much smaller pot, but I have no idea what size the root mass is though. I keep mine in small pots as it let's them dry out more quickly.

[vpsihop@hotmail.com]

Agree with jcec1, you've got 5 nice leaves their and it's a bottom leaf that's yellowing so I think your ok.

Careful watering since it's a bit over potted. Maybe try a bamboo skewer down the center of the media and let it sit there for 30 min. Pull out the skewer and see how damp it is. It'll give you an idea on your watering schedule

[rbarata]

Agree! That's a bottom leaf, probably the oldest one in the plant. Its time has come.

[Ophiel]

Thank you all for your insight and advice! I've just stuck a bamboo skewer in each pot to check. It was surprisingly damp, I'd better slow down my watering schedule! As suggested, I'll move them all to a smaller pots next time I repot.