Actually, I performed "surgery" on a recovering Phal today. After my s/h experiment it sufferend root loss and it needs new roots ASAP. Compared to others in my collection it recovers slowly. The second new root grew where you would expect a spike but the leaf beneath was very healthy and firm.
This baby grows roots very slowly and I would love that this root would find the bark rather than develop as an 'aerial' because that leaf was in it's way. I removed a bit of that leaf to give the root easier access to the bark.
I'll never remove healthy looking leafs. I think the plant needs them and if it's a healthy plant there is good balance between roots and leafs.
If you remove 1 leaf from a Phal that has 4-5 leafs, it won't die, but it certainly would stress it, IMHO.
I never had problems with bugs/fungus because of leafs that were very close to the bark. Also, when leaf naturally dies back, remove it only when it falls off by it's own. The plant takes nutrients from that leaf.
Nicole
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