Hello everyone!

[Yanquister]

I'm brand new to the forum, and I must say I'm blown away by the massive amount if information as well as opinions from the "experienced vets" in the orchid area. So thrilled to have found this site! Hope we can all b of benefit to one another!

I recently started collecting orchids back in January and, like most if you, immediately became obsessed...erró enamored! Lol Hope to have many discussions with you in the future, and thanks for welcoming me to your groups

Sincerely,
Joseph? The orchid newbie?

PS:
I recently posted something under "Phal abuse ends here". They advised me to post on other boards about my problem, if any of you have advice or know a fellow phal grows who might could help, please let me know! Thanks in advance. Below is the original post (sorry if its in the wrong area, I'm new to this and am a little lost as to what might necessarily go where, so I apologize if this isn't the place to post....

"Need help with a Phal please! I tried to read all through the sticky and (unless I missed it, for which I deeply apologize), what in the world is happening to this leaf? This has been one of my happier plants and they have all given me year round blooms AND a priceless hobby (flowering spikes or not). The last couple of days I noticed this one had a withering leaf, and my water schedule (around every 8-10 days in this humid climate in south MS/LA area), but the leaf looks horrible! Has something gone wrong or is this natural? My others have never done this (yet), and as of now they have all been perfectly healthy and flowering on their own time (one phal after blooming four months miraculously showed up with two new spikes, and this one was considered one of my healthier ones! Please? Any advice to give this worried phal lover please?? (I've tried to attach a photo but I'm using my iPhone, please let me know if it doesn't work!)

Thanks so much guys, you and all your info/input is just a wealth of information that I read religiously!!! Below is the photo of the sad looking leaf. Thanks so much for any help in advance (or at least steering me in the right direction). Happy growing, friends!

[Bud]

WELCOME ABOARD!

The plant needs to be isolated from the rest. Check for sap-sucking insects under the leaf. The heavily damaged leaf must be cut since its got those black spots that indicates fungi infestation has began.
Invest on a fungicide and some home remedy for mites.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

I agree with Bud, I've seen something similar on one with Mealy bugs. Check really carefully, they can hide pretty well

[Discus]

Welcome to OrchidBoard! - as the others have suggested, have a good look at the underside of a leaf (preferably with some sort of magnification) for critters that might be causing the damage; it's best to identify the problem and treat with the most appropriate remedy rather than try a "shotgun" approach!

[Yanquister]

Thanks so much everyone! Love all the input. I will get right on that inspection...I can't bear to lose one now! I'm the only orchid I personally know that has never lost one and I refuse to start now! Lol

---------- Post added at 05:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:05 AM ----------

*orchid owner, sorry

[tucker85]

Welcome to Orchid Board! That's the oldest leaf on the plant. If you don't find any insects, then it's probably just a natural process of loosing old leaves. I'm a little concerned about the media you're growing in. That looks like ideal media for a cattleya but I don't think it will retain enough water for a phal, if you're only watering every 8-10 days. You may want to consider a medium size bark mixture or water more often if you plan to leave it in that media. That's just my opinion. Good luck.

[MattWoelfsen]

I agree with Tucker, that potting media and the pot itself looks like something I would replace. Since it is not in bloom, it would be a good time to repot it anyway. I am migrating away from terra-cotta pots as they retain salts and other chemicals. I have all my Phals in clear plastic pots. Phal roots does photosynthesis (awkward grammar, sorry) so they have light access. Because I can see the roots, I can quickly determine whether or not the roots need water--green roots, no water, gray-silver roots, need to be watered.

Side note, YES this is a great forum for finding a lot of information on orchids. BUT, ever since I have joined, I keep wanting to buy more orchids!

[SlipperGirl]

Welcome to OB