Natural shedding or problem?
 

I am new to slipper type orchids. I know that it is natural for orchids to lose their lower leaves, however, being new to paphs and phrags, I'm not sure if I am looking at a natural shedding of leaves, or if there is a potential problem. My paph is yellowing and then browning on the oldest leaf, but doing so from the crown. My phrag is sorting of yellowing and browning from only one side of a leaf, but it is the oldest. It also has a new growth starting at the base, on the same side the yellow leaf is forming. Can anyone identify if there is a potential problem with either plant or is this ok? I recently repotted both. The phrag was severly root bound. The paph is the one with mottled leaves.

I would suspect it's shedding of older foliage - BUT - I don't have much experience with Paphs, and none with Phrags -
hopefully some more experienced growers will be able to advise on this
gl

Should be no problem - the new growth looks healthy and strong and the yellowing leaf is on a growth that's bloomed - they do very gradually die off.

It looks like it's on the fan which has already flowered. If so I would expect that fan to slowly shed it's leaves. All of my paphs have done this with old fans.

The new fans looks healthy so I don't think you have a problem.

I agree. The old fan is dying naturally. The rest of your plant looks darn good.

Kim

Thanks everyone. I am greatful for the feedback. :bowing

If I may throw out one possibility - it looks too dry.

When I grew paphs in bark or CHC-based mixes, I typically let them go dry between waterings, and saw old-fan die-off occur whenever there were only a couple of new ones. Since keeping them constantly moist (via semi-hydroponics), I have noticed the plants retaining older growths much longer, and developing much larger clusters.

That's really intersting Ray. I admit mine often dry more than I intend between waterings and while the unflowered fans seem healthy and grow well I always see old fans die off. Really interesting that growing it moister might slow that :hmm