Phal growing deformed small leaves.

[KatyaB]

Hahaha! Yes, I have now been putting my orchids right next to the window and closing the bedroom door. They are safer now from my cat. The phal's new leaf seems to have even perked up a bit.

[KatyaB]

Thank you for all your help. This phal is doing okay. Unfortunately I started giving it too much light so the biggest leaf burned a little. But a fourth leaf is growing!!! My next question: should I remove the oldest leaf? Will it help or hinder the growth process of the other leaves?

[RosieC]

Leave the old leaves.

If the orchid has had enough of them it will turn brown and eventually the leaf will pull away with just a slight tug. While the leaves are green and firmly attached then the plant is getting benefit from the leaf. Trust that it knows best.

While leaves take moisture to support they also provide energy through photosynthesis, if you remove the leaf you remove the energy source.

In my experience if the plant cannot support the moisture the leaf needs then it will naturally go brown. When one of mine lost most roots it dropped about half the leaves as well. All those it hung on to I left... however wrinkled.

[JanS]

I must agree with the "few roots = small leaves" theory. I am attaching a couple of photos of a phal. I rescued some time ago from my wife's co-worker. It had decent leaves but only a single living root, I actually had trouble keeping it standing up in the pot. While in my care, it grew three very dwarfed and distorted leaves (you can see them in the photos) but no new roots...and I must sat I got very close to giving up on it and throwing it away. Then, to my great astonishment, it shot out 3 flower stalks and is presently successfully flowering! Where it got the energy I have no idea. Glad to say, it is presently sending out 2 new roots (finally!) - so don't give up on yours either!!

[cneos]

leave the oldest leaf ... it will fall off on its own when it's ready. If plant is taken care of, the oldest leaves can last for MANY years

[ttn]

Jans. When was it rescued?

[KatyaB]

Wow. I am so impressed by that rescued orchid! Those flowers are so pretty! I would be so happy if mine would flower again. I am so attached to it because it was my first orchid and my hubby gave it to me when we were still dating. It makes me so sad that it suffered. I will post some pics so that you can see what state it's in. Any predictions as to when I can expect or coax it into flowering? I don't want to do it too soon...
It's been successfully growing leaves and grew 4 roots. No new roots yet...

[KatyaB]

The first pic shows those weird spots that I think might be scaley insects... They are only on the big leaf. Pic 4 shows the burn. Poor leaf. Much suffering...