Unusually large leaf

[Lena]

One of my phals is growing a leaf..And it won't stop!

I'm not sure why, but it just keeps getting bigger and bigger. It's all floppy now since it seems like it is too big for its own good. Will this be okay?

[camille1585]

It's a good sign tht the new leaf is larger than the previous one! New leaves tend to be more soft and floopy for a while then become firmer. But low light and/or excessive nitrogen will also promote large soft leaves.

[RosieC]

I agree with Camille. The large leaf is a good sign, but the floppiness would worry me. May be best to check nitrogen and light levels.

[Angurek]

I think it's natural for monopodial orchids to produce larger leaves toward the apex. Probably nothing to be concerned about.

[Lena]

How do I check the nitrogen levels?

[Connie Star]

My phals are doing the same thing, especially the younger ones. I'm using Jack's classic bloom booster (by default) on all of them, which is less nitrogen than a balanced fertilizer. So I assume they're okay

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Lena

How do I check the nitrogen levels?

What fertilizer do you use (the NPK ratio), how much and how often? It's most likely that the leaf is normal, but it doesn't hurt to check other things!

[Lena]

I use Better Gro brand fertilizer. I water more than once a week, but I only fertilize once a week. I put half a teaspoon per gallon. Is that too much? I put it closer to the window to see if that helps.

[camille1585]

The brand of the fertilizer doesn't help much since there are probably lots of different ones. Can you look at the ratio of minerals? It's 3 numbers, like 10-10-10 or something else.

[Lena]

20-14-13 it says on the front.