Yellow leaf and something I've never seen before.#orchidl...
I recently bought this orchid and I noticed that one of its leaves has a tip that is more yellow than the rest of the leaf. It is still in that brown cork shaped thing they come in and it is planted in sphagnum moss only. So I have not watered yet, since the moss is still wet/damp. Does anyone know if it is serious or if it will spread? I have attached a picture at the bottom.
Another thing I noticed is is a small leaf on one of the flower stalks. When I looked a bit closer this morning I saw there is something growing out of it. Has anyone seen this before? What is it?
Another thing I noticed is is a small leaf on one of the flower stalks. When I looked a bit closer this morning I saw there is something growing out of it. Has anyone seen this before? What is it?
2ft to light, indirect
2” pot with drainage
Last watered 1 month ago
6
Best Answer
Hi. As for the leaf, I wouldn't worry too much, but monitor it. It looks like there is some mechanical damage, and maybe some pathogen entered, so you might need to act if you see the yellowing intensify or spread. It could also just be a normal reaction to the stress it has received in the store or with the change in surroundings (if it's the bottom most leaf?). Maybe wait and see, and if it spreads fast, definitely repost the problem for solutions. It's far away from the stem and crown, so for now, I would stress about it.
There are some hybrids that grow leaves on the spikes. For example, the white mini phal with a greenish yellowing center that you seem to have 😀. Sadly that one is also prone to growing terminal spikes, i.e. flower spikes that grow through the top/ center and destroy the crown. If that happens, the phal cannot produce any more leaves and can only sustain the status quo for as long as the old leaves can survive. However, this gives it ample time in most cases too grow a keiki (a small offshoot) to survive via a clone, which is what might be happening here, though it's not clear yet. The flower spike might just be branching out. If however you see more leaves growing there and roots, then you can be sure that you have a little baby plant, which you will be able to separate once it's big enough.
Again, though, it might just be a new branch to the spike that looks odd to you by this hybrids specific habit to grow leaves along the stem
There are some hybrids that grow leaves on the spikes. For example, the white mini phal with a greenish yellowing center that you seem to have 😀. Sadly that one is also prone to growing terminal spikes, i.e. flower spikes that grow through the top/ center and destroy the crown. If that happens, the phal cannot produce any more leaves and can only sustain the status quo for as long as the old leaves can survive. However, this gives it ample time in most cases too grow a keiki (a small offshoot) to survive via a clone, which is what might be happening here, though it's not clear yet. The flower spike might just be branching out. If however you see more leaves growing there and roots, then you can be sure that you have a little baby plant, which you will be able to separate once it's big enough.
Again, though, it might just be a new branch to the spike that looks odd to you by this hybrids specific habit to grow leaves along the stem
@MusicalRedmint It has two spikes growing out of the crown😥. Aww, that's bad news. Thank you for telling me, now I know what to look for in the future. I guess now I just appreciate the blooms while they last and hope for a keiki to grow.
They oftentimes sell them with a lot of healthy foliage, so don't be sad. It will not die on you soon just because of that. Just treat it right and you might have many more blooms from this orchid. This one is just genetically predisposed towards those spikes and I would see it as a fun experiment and a chance to grow keikis. I know, @MotherOfOrchids is doing exactly that right now. And I had deliberately also bought one of them a while back to do the same, but sadly lost it to another problem in the meantime. And now you know what to look out for next time, if you don't want to experiment, though I'm pretty certain, even if you had been able to buy one with an intact crown, down the road you probably would have had the same problem 🤷♀️ and it's so pretty. If I remember correctly it has those cute freckles and a really fresh green center on newly opened buds 😍 just enjoy it, and maybe in the or four years you will have a new one and maybe even one to spare.
Saw you renamed her. 😬 terminal she might be, but she probably has some good years left in her 😅
