yellow leaves

[Cinderella]

When you have a leaf that is yellowing, do you cut it off or allow it to drop on it's own?

I know there are several reasons for yellow leaves, but what are the most common?

Thanks!

[dosal]

You are supposed to let it drop on it's own accord, but I usually remove them.

[peteMc]

Fortunately for me, the leaves that have yellowed have done so because of age - they were superceded by larger new growth(phals, aeranthes), or the pbulb was moving "back" (brassia, stanhopea).

I wait, simply from habit, certainly not because I had any idea I was supposed to - truth is I had hope of the things recovering before I knew they just did that eventually. Initially it worried me because I thought I had overwatered and killed the roots.

p

[Jmoney]

if it's a phal I might give it a gentle tug but it will fall off on its own. if it's a paph/phrag (which usually turn a nice sickening brown), I like to pull them off carefully at the base. it might be wise *not* to do that with brachys--they tend to break off at the base with the slightest misstep.

I personally would never cut off a leaf unless it showed evidence of rot. no need to introduce a potential nidus of infection.

[Gilda]

I personally would never cut off a leaf unless it showed evidence of rot. no need to introduce a potential nidus of infection.

I agree...let it dry and fall off on it's own.....

[momokev]

I'm glad you asked this, Debbie, as I've always cut them. I'll leave 'em be from now on!

Lisa

[Cinderella]

I have had 2 leaves yellow on an otherwise perfectly healthy Phal....and not the bottom 2 leaves either. I just can't figure out why this might have happened. Has anybody had this happen before?

[momokev]

One of my favorite phals died not long ago from some mysterious disease. You may remember when I posted about it. Leaves in the middle of the plant turned yellow and it worked it's way down until only the top two leaves remained. When they started to turn yellow, I threw my beloved plant away.

I would isolate the plant, just in case.

Lisa

[Cinderella]

Lisa I DO remember when you posted about that. It was also very strange, like mine. The thing is that this plant was healthy as a horse until now....lots of new roots and the leaves I grew were the largest on the plant. ???

[momokev]

Mine also occured out of the blue and spread quickly. Nothing I did stopped it. If I recall, same thing happened to a couple of others on the board, with the same end. I'm just happy that none of my others have shown any signs of the problem. I wish you better luck!

Lisa