Question
Hi, I just purchased my first orchard, a purple Phalaenopsis. It is stunningly beautiful.  The instructions state to keep in medium light, and water when planting medium becomes almost dry.  I have had the plant for two weeks, and have only watered once.  Today, I found a leaf on the floor and was heart broken.  When do you know when you should repot, or what am I doing wrong that I have already lost a leaf.  I just love this beautiful plant and don't want to kill it.  I do have it placed in medium light and have not transplanted it yet. Thank you kindly for your help!

Answer
Hello Denise,

Congratulations on your first orchid - hopefully the first of many to come.  (grin)  

While it is not unusual for a leaf to fall off a phalaenopsis, they usually first become limp and slowly turn brown before falling off.  If the one that fell off was still green, it probably fell off due to something other than old age.  Is there a black sooty area at the base of the leaf that fell off?  If there is, that would be proof that a fungus infection caused the leaf to fall off prematurely.  

Yes, phalaenopsis prefer bright shade, temperatures between 60F to 85F, humidity above 50% plus some light air movement around it.  Water when the potting media becomse barely moist and it would be a good idea to feed it lightly with some balance type orchid food once in a while.  You may repot phalaenopsis just about any time but the best time is after it has finished blooming.  

Hope this has helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.