phal leaves wrinking and yellowing

[samtr]

Hi, my mom has three phal. orchids and lately all three are having yellow leaves and they are starting to shrivel. Two of them have flowers and all three are grown in baskets with sphagnum moss. They are placed on the porch that's facing southwest. My mom is a busy woman and she waters maybe every 3-4 days. This is the first time that it has happened to these plants since she's owned them. One she has had at least five years, another maybe 2-3 years, and the third 1 year. BTW, we live in FL. What could be wrong with them?

[mayres]

If you are talking about the bottom one or two leaves it might just be time for them to yellow and leave - their job is done. Every year phals loose a leaf or two and replace it with a leaf or two - staying the approximate same size (until mature it may add an extra leaf or two which might also be slightly larger - but loosing a leaf or two is quite natural). If the rest of the leaves look good and healthy there is probably nothing wrong. You might take a digital pic and post if you are certain there is something wrong. Question to ask - if in sphagnum moss - how long since they have been repotted? Do they get direct sunshine on them or are they shaded? You say one is five years old - has it been in this location the entire time?

[janet_a]

i'm thinking SW porch in tampa may be too much light...?

[tizzycat]

I'm with Mike, my phals lose leaves (usually the bottom ones) occasionally.

AS Mike says a picture would be really useful.