Phal suddenly going yellow and dry

[narquelie]

Hi everyone! I've had a phal for over 4 years now and we've got along just fine - it's been blooming beautifully twice a year, looking healthy, etc. This spring it only got 3 flowers (whereas 10-13 used to be the standard). I've also moved house, and placed it by the west-facing window in my new room.

I just got home after being away for a week to find that three of its bottom leaves are now yellow and dried up. On the other hand, the three that are left (which have reddish/purplish edges) seem to have grown towards the window, as if they want to get more sun...? I've been watering it as normal and also use this spray fertiliser once a week.

I really care about this orchid - it's the first one I bought and it's travelled with me a lot - and would really appreciate any help as to how I can save it

Edit: I've tried to add photos but it won't let me

[Orchid Whisperer]

You can attach photos after making 5 posts, or just include a link to a photo on another site, similar to Photobucket.

I am curious about the spray fertilizer. Most fertilizer is best applied to orchid roots only. Are you spraying only the roots, or the leaves too? Can you tell us about the fertilizer analysis (NPK and anything else it contains?)

[Sharon's Sheepdogs]

I am not familiar with spray fertilizers either for orchids. Can you also let us know how long you've been using it, how long the orchid has been in its new location & when the last time it was repotted.

[Ray]

I'm with Sharon on this one:

Originally Posted by Sharon's Sheepdogs

...when the last time it was repotted?

[jkofferdahl]

I also wonder about repotting. As material ages it also breaks down, holding more water around the roots and so not letting them dry or get enough air. Also, if the leaves are getting a purple edge it probably means they are getting a wee bit too much light.

[narquelie]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I've been using Orchid Myst, for the past month or so, since I was worried about it only having 3 flowers. I've used it in the past as well, for a couple of months every year and it seemed to be fine (although this is the first time I do it when it's in bloom).

The orchid has been in its new location for about 3 months. It's also got considerably sunnier outside in the past month so that probably didn't help..? I don't have any east/north facing windows though.

I've never repotted - which is terrible, I know - because it seemed perfectly healthy until now. It's still got 3 flowers atm, is it safe to repot now?

[jkofferdahl]

You can repot a Phal just about any time without causing negative effects.

[estación seca]

The potting medium breaks down over time and becomes a soggy mass of black muck. This can kill the roots. The plant has insufficient roots to support all the leaves, and drops the older ones to conserve water.

Most people growing Phals in bark chips or in sphagnum moss repot every two years to keep this from happening. I would say this is likely your problem.

The other possibility is it just didn't get watered for a while during your time away, so it is dropping leaves to conserve water.

In either case it is time to repot right now. You can use bark chips, LECA clay balls commonly sold in hydroponics shops, or spagnum moss. Different people succeed or fail with all of the above; bark and LECA are good for people who tend to overwater, and sphagnum for people who tend to underwater.

[Sharon's Sheepdogs]

narquelie, you should start by first pulling the orchid out of its pot and letting us know how the roots look. Are they firm or soft & mushy. Also, do you have access to any physan 20?