What are the reasons why the new leaves of a Phalaenopsis orchid growing smaller is abnormal?

If you want to grow Phalaenopsis orchids well, you must of course learn to grow the roots well, and secondly, observe the leaf condition of the plant more often. Recently, a fan question came in through the backend, asking why the leaves that grow out get smaller and smaller as the plant is kept.

In response to this flower lover's question, and also in combination with the picture sent in through the backend, the editor believes that the shrinking of new leaves is mainly caused by six key reasons. First, the most common one is insufficient light. In summer the light angle changes, or the spot where it is placed is already short on light, so the Phalaenopsis orchid does not get enough sun, photosynthesis becomes weak, and the nutrients it produces cannot keep up. The new leaves cannot grow, so they naturally become thin, small and flimsy.

But too much light is no good either. Newly bought Phalaenopsis orchids are most prone to this problem. If the light at home is strong, the plant will thicken, harden and shorten its new leaves for self-protection, and they will look not stretched out at all. This is actually it adapting to the environment. Then, not keeping up with watering also affects leaf size. During the stage when the Phalaenopsis orchid grows leaves, it urgently needs water. If it lacks water at this time, nutrient absorption and transport are both affected, and the new leaves certainly cannot grow large.

Next, the state of the roots is also key. The roots are like the Phalaenopsis orchid's "mouth". If they are rotted, hollow, or even gone, the mouth (roots) has no way at all to absorb nutrients from the soil, and the plant can only live on the little "savings" stored in the stem. Therefore, how could that little bit of nutrient be enough to grow leaves? This also becomes a reason for the new leaves shrinking. In this case, just patiently wait for the roots to recover, and the new leaves will quickly grow large.

In addition, growing new leaves while blooming is also prone to problems. Because blooming uses up a lot of nutrients, if it grows leaves at the same time, the nutrients will be given to the flowers first (because flowers can set seed and extend new life), so the leaves get less, and naturally cannot grow large.

Finally, there is also the matter of temperature. If a temperature drop occurs while it is growing leaves, for example at the turn of autumn and winter, once the temperature falls, the Phalaenopsis orchid grows slowly, or even stops growing. If a leaf has just grown halfway when the temperature drops, it may stop at a small size, and afterwards it must wait until the weather warms up before it can continue to grow larger.