Have I done right?

[yorkie]

I bought a Phalaenopsis a few months ago and to begin with everything was going ok. After a few months I noticed the leaves turning brown, I have changed the medium and give it plenty of tlc. As this was not improving it I took the drastic step of cutting the main stem back as all the flowers had died. It is now in a cooler place and I have recently noticed 2 new leaves growing. They are only small at the moment but I am still not sure if I have done the right thing...........

Yorkie......

[mayres]

When you say the leaves were turning brown I presume you mean the bottom leaves? This is the normal process for phals - they loose 1-2 leaves and gain 1-2 leaves each year. Cutting the main stem back clear to the base will help the plant concentrate on building up its strength for the next bloom cycle instead of potentially thinking about reblooming. Don't know what you mean by "cooler place". Most phals prefer it on the warm side. If it is tool cool they will stall. Last winter in order to save on energy costs I kept my room (where my phals were) set at 55 degrees night and 65 days and they went into like suspended animation - neither died nor grew. Just sat there until spring. You may be doing fine as is. mike

[jerrymeola]

You have done right.

It will take all year for the leaves to grow to full size. Be patient. Phals flower only once a year.