Big old phal's new baby leaf POPPED OFF?

[ramonypony]

It's not crown rot. I've never seen this with a phal before. I barely touched the little leaf and thought "that felt loose" so I went to see if it was and wiggled it a little and it popped clean off. It had a little yellow tint to the base of the leaf and where it was attached looked to be dry, as if the plant had sealed off access to this leaf.

Did my phal abort this leaf?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Post a pic please?

[ramonypony]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Post a pic please?

I don't have the leaf anymore. But here's the wound where it was.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have seen that before in a couple of Phalaenopsis. Treat the plant normally, take care not to get water in the crown.

When I've had this happen, the plant has added a leaf normally the next time. The fact that the base of the aborted leaf is green is a good sign.

What causes it?

[Subrosa]

Without knowing anything else I would look at that wound and feel pretty confident that the plant would be fine. It looks like it was cut with a sharp blade and has started healing. Knowing the circumstances I'm very curious why the plant would do it to itself.

[ramonypony]

Well, it looks like the leaf has started growing again! I don't know what this orchid is doing. I saw no damage to the leaf, it looked perfect! This is what I get for calling this phal a favorite.

[rbarata]

Now you'll get half-leaf. Let's hope it won't bloom an half-flower.

[GPeach]

Any chance that it may have been accidentally broken off by another person and then put back in place to make it look like it didn't happen?