Need Help Deciding What To Do Next!
 

Thanks in advance for any help that people give me.

Here's the situation:

My gf bought me a Phal for Christmas. I had purchased one back in 2006 but unfortunately killed it. I had talked about replacing it for years and finally my gf got me one. So needless to say this thing can't die!

It had a good amount of blooms when she bought it in late December (10-12) and they were very healthy for almost two months. Every so often one would wither up but for the most part everything was good.

In February the plant slowly started dropping blooms. Everything I read online said it was just part of the life cycle and that the plant was coming to the end of the bloom cycle. I kept watering and kept sunning and eventually I saw what looked like new growth at the end of the main stem as well as a little growth at the strongest branch. Well the growth has since stopped and now there's not a whole lot going on.

However over the last few days the bottom most leaf is starting to turn yellow. I still have 4 big leaves that appear to be healthy. A small branch off the main spike has also turned yellow all the way to the main spike.

So now I ask, what do I do next? Is the plan just done for a few months and I should trim the main spike back? If so, how far to I cut it and whats the best way to avoid infection or anything negative happening.

Thanks again for any help anyone can give. Feel free to ask any questions!

Most likely, the plant is coming to the end of the blooming cycle. There are ways to get a spike to rebloom, but I would advise allowing it to follow a natural course, and so would advise clipping the spike. Take a sanitized clipper and snip the spike off within about a half an inch of the base of the plant.

So far as the yellowing leaf is concerned, it is probably again just a natural part of the cycle. Phals often lose a leaf as they develop a new one. Thus, you will likely see the tip of a new leaf emerging from the plant almost any time.

I agree with jkofferdahl that it is probably just time to shed the leaf, but what is the potting medium you are using and have you checked the roots?
Joann

All of the visible roots look pretty good. One of the main roots coming out of the base has a bit of a red tinge that I've never seen before....not sure whats going on there.

As for potting, I havent repotted it since I got it so I'm not 100% sure. But it looks like a fairly loose medium. Its not bark or anything....looks like a peat moss or something.

Sphag moss holds a lot of moisture, you might just take the plant out of the pot and check the roots, this will narrow the problem. If they're brown and mushy, they're dead and you need to cut them off. If they're fat and green, they're healthy and do not need water. If they're silver/white it's time to water. If the roots are good, your phal is probably just shedding a leaf.
Joann

sounds like its the end of the cycle. dont panick. now is a good time to repot your orchid. try finding a mix that doesnt break down as easily as moss or retain so much moisture. all of mine (phals) have been repotted into a mix of coconut, bark, and charcoal. two of the three plants I separated from a pot they were together in are in bloom now. The mix I use keeps you from having to repot every year too. nice perk. you can trim off the yellow leaf if you dont want to look at it. spray some alcohol and rub some cinnamon to prevent infection. I sprinkle some on the crown too to prevent crown rot. My plants are happy and healthy. Once you repot, water once a week and leave it alone. The less you fuss with the phals the happier they seem to be (I am in miami, eastern exposure ocean front so also spoiled with ideal conditions :)

A tip I'm learning is that when you repot the phal, repot it in a clear plastic container in the mix mentioned above. That way, you can check the roots by just looking through the pot to tell if they need water (green = ok and silver/white = time to water) or to see any problems developing. You can put this clear pot inside a more decorative pot if you want.

I agree with everyone else. It's probably just the natural cycle.

I would cut off the spike close to the plant and dab the end with cinnomon. The yellowing leaf will naturally seperate from the plant when it is ready. Give it a slight tug and if it clings on it's not ready to leave yet.

But if your Phal has been in Sphag for three years then I think it's time to repot as the moss will be breaking down and compressing which is not a good thing for a Phal. You can check out the roots as you do that.

SamandAnne said, get a clear plastic pot. Whatever your choice of medium it will help you to see your roots and know what is going on with them.

I favour bark mixes for my medium. I currently use a mix of bark and chunks of coconut husk.

I don't know how long its been in the moss. I've had it for 4 months or so so I'd guess that its been potted for 6 months+. Should I just repot anyway to get a "fresh start"

Again thank you all for your help.

Sorry, I had confused it with the one you bought in 2006 :blushing:. I'm not sure how long Sphag lasts as I use bark (which lasts a couple of years). I think Sphag does not last as long as bark but I'm not sure how long.