Problem with Phal

[moniluhum]

I have had this Phal for two years and this is the best it has flowered. However, I noticed that the leaves looked stressed so I moved it to a location with less light. Now two leaves have turned yellow and will die zoo. I had planned on repotting but wanted to wait until it stopped flowering. What should I do?

[ksriramkumar]

Roots and top leaf look ok to me. I can think of two possible leads

1. what fertilizer do you use?. is the potting mix too old and consuming the nitrogen and is it possible that it is because of some deficiency ?
2. do you see any pests on the leafs/undersides ?. would be good to use a magnifying glass to check

[FloraStar]

Some of my phals will lose the leaf above or below the flower stem. Sometimes there are new roots developing there. Sometimes they just yellow and die. The rest of the leaves are fine. Since your newest growth seems untouched, it might be that it is either caused by the flower stem or there might be some pest affecting that portion of the stem. The nitrogen suggestion from ksriramkumar is a good possibility too.

Hope you figure it out! That's a great bloomer!

[78Terp]

Yes, that looks to be a bad location for the leaves to be yellowing. Crown rot in progress?

[moniluhum]

do not see pest, rot, or new roots. Use RO water and MSU fertilizer. It desperately needs reporting. Could that be the problem and if so should I wait until the plant stops flowering.
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[78Terp]

At this point, if saving the orchid is the goal, I would forget about worrying about the flowers. In fact, if it were mine, I would cut the spike off and repot. Thus directing the orchids energy away from the flower cycle.

[moniluhum]

good idea although I'd hate to cut bloom nicest ever. but I think it's better choice. just wondering about the nitrogen topic. is it a concern when using MSU and RO?
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---------- Post Merged at 12:44 PM ----------

good idea although I'd hate to cut bloom nicest ever. but I think it's better choice. just wondering about the nitrogen topic. is it a concern when using MSU and RO?
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[78Terp]

I hear ya.

We all face this choice at one tine or another.

[Carolla]

I vote for repotting. It may have sent up that bloom because of stress - sometimes they do try for reproduction when they are having serious problems. I personally don't like the look of it at all. If the old media is broken down, its doing damage to the roots and can kill the plant. Better to have it blooming next year than let it go now. I'd say pull it out and see what's going on in the pot and give it some new media. If those leaves turned yellow fast, rather than slowly getting a bit wrinkly then slowly turning yellow, something is likely wrong and a thorough exam and a new pot is your most hopeful course of action.

Be sure to soak your new bark before using and, if the roots are bad, keep humidity high, the roots warm and go easy on light and water to the roots.