On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 07:59:49 -0700, Miller wrote
(in article FHacd.822$7d7.168@trnddc04):

I am new to orchid growing so this question may sound stupid.

I have a phal, specifically a Taipei Gold x Brother Laurence, that I bought
about two months ago. It has two spikes with blooms. Both spikes are growing
new blooms while the oldest blooms are wilting. It has grown one new leaf
which is now the same size as the others. The question: one of the bottom
leaves has turned yellow and wilted over the last month or so. Is this
normal or should I be concerned? The other leaves, about four of them,
appear very healthy.

I live in Florida and the plants are kept outdoors in a covered, screened
patio area. This plant gets about 30 minutes of direct sunlight through a
screen in the late afternoon.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Miller

Never anything stupid about trying to find an answer. If there were
never anyone with a question I could answer, I'd be very sad.
Some phals will do just as you describe, and in fact some folks will
deliberately invite a second bloom by cutting the spike of a wilted bloom
just above a lower node. Others worry that allowing a phal to bloom
sequentially will deplete the plant's resources. I've never had a problem
with that, although phal blooms last so long, that I'm usually ready to put a
plant to sleep by cutting the spike at its base. Most will then bloom
annually.
It's perfectly normal for the lowest leaves to turn yellow and drop off
as new ones grow from the crown. Your plant sounds very healthy.

Tom
Walnut Creek, CA
Nikon CP 5700