Oldest leaf dries up when new leaf grows

[RosieC]

I note on looking again that your pots look VERY big. They seem too big for the size of the plants.

You usually want pots which are just a little bigger than the root mass, just big enough to fit it in. Sometimes roots can struggle if the pot and therefore amount of medium is too much.

[silken]

RosieC, you are one step ahead of me again! was just going to comment that the pots looked a bit big. Also if the leaves are nice and wide and good size but shorter than old ones, maybe your plant is getting a bit more light and they aren't stretching out as much looking for light. I find mine continue to grow for a long time too.

[Lilly B]

This orchid is 7 years old and I have never fertilized her. Do you think that might be the problem? If so, how do you fertilize without "burning" the plant. Any fertilizer that is especially good for Phals?

[Lilly B]

Rosie C. and silken, the pot is big but her roots are so wide that it was the only thing big enough to hold her. I repotted her about a year ago. Maybe I should put her in a smaller, Vanda type basket.

[RosieC]

If the roots fill the pot then it should be fine.

Fertiliser is a good idea. I don't know what is available where you are as I'm in the UK, but the rule of thumb is 'weakly weekly' to avoid burning the roots. So basically rather than strongly once a month you should fertilise every week using a weak solution.

I believe any Balanced fertiliser can be used, Urea free is best. Ray has a calculator on his website to help calculate a good strenght for weekly fertilisation. Fertilizer Mixing Calculators

He also has some good info on how to fertilise, take a look at the links here. First Rays' Free Info

[Lilly B]

Rosie, thanks for the site, it is very helpful. I've heard so many horror stories about orchids being burned by fertilizer that I was afraid to feed them. My oldest plants are 7 years old and have never been fertilized and yet they bloom very heavily. This year the one I started this thread for has given me one spike that is going to go into bloom earlier than mid January which is what she has done for six years. Now she has started a second spike which she has never done before. Should I wait and fertilize when she has done blooming or do you feed your Phals year round? She has a special meaning for me so I don't want to do anything that might cause her demise. I have attached photos of the first spike and the new one.

[RosieC]

I feed year round. I've seen Ray say that a blooming plant should be thought of like a pregnant woman... it's NOT a good time to stave her of food!

[Lilly B]

I'm going to give the fertilizer a try. It's logical to feed the plant, I'm just a little afraid of overdoing it. I'll start with half strength and see what happens to my "pregnant" orchid. Thanks Rosie!