Phal ailing

[justatypn]

This morning I found a dead leaf 5 healthy leaves from the rooting system. After closer inspection the leaf below it as shown is slightly turning yellow. The phal is shooting out multiple roots in this area, any clue as to what is happening?

[Tony]

The rest of the plant looks healthy, I wouldn't be too worried. It's normal for roots to grow out from high on the stem.

[Oscarman]

Did it simply slowly dry up and die or is it soft, wet and/or mushy? If it was the former, I would not be too worried either. I have had phals. drop leaves inbetween obviously healthy ones.

One of the leaves in the 3rd picture looks like it has a section of darker color next to a light section??? Not sure what that is all about.

How long has in been since repotting, what is it potted in? How are the roots within the media?

[Ross]

If it were mine, I wouldn't worry. I've seen this (rarely) before and the plant seemed OK. I sometimes think Phals belong in the same class as Tony's Dendrobiums (orchids from hell) because they can do strange things. I had one (that I am now successfully spiking) just die in the center and develop a kiki. The kiki is now my main plant! Go figure.

[Ross]

The best port of the whole scenario is that it is sending out healthy roots! Be happy!

[justatypn]

That's whats got me baffled (using Sues word if I may.), it just happened within a week, was not like that last week when I watered. It gets good air circulation, it is not mushy, actually tried to tug on it and see but would not come apart, so that is a good thing. The phal is in its original medium from when I bought it and this is one of the plants I was going to move to a mount due to the amount of roots shooting from her (personal gender choosen) and looking root-bound. The roots are very healthy within the pot, they are what I like to say as being nosy (close to the wall of the clear pot). There are 4 new roots shooting out around this leaf.

The third picture was taken because your right Dave the discoloration...this is what is concerning me, is this isolated or is this other leaf showing stress and am I going to loose it.

Should I wait to see what happens before mounting it? or take the change and make the move.

[Ross]

Keep us informed. My experience with both plastic and clay pots is the medium tends to break down after a year or so and stay too wet (even for Phals.) I use the output of new roots as an indicator of needing repotting, typically. Two things I would use to judge the health of the plant (all things considered) - are there new leaves growing? Are there new roots growing? In the past when I first tried Phals, I kept them too wet and they rotted. But there was no new growth and no new roots. I don't see that here. Let us know in a week if it accellerates.

[Wendy]

If it were mine I would mount it right now. It doesn't look like you have any mushy, infected areas so you should be okay....sometimes these things just happen. I've had Phals lose middle leaves for no apparent reason and not lose a beat with growing. Your root growth looks perfect to move it to a mount.

[wallyworld]

I wouldn't worry about it as long as it is not rotting. On some of my phals, they will have a leaf dieoff where a new root is coming out.

[justatypn]

I did look at the phal tonight, the leaf fell off and there was 4 new roots forming/growing. Will definitely move it to a mount in the next few days...got an extra few hours in a day???