Why did my l. reginae turn red?!

[Tropic]

Nature dictates some basic rules and one of them is that 'red' is a sign of danger. Many plants also use this colour to defend tender new shoots from possible predators. The toxicity of some red shoots, leaves, fruits and even flowers have been detrimental to many insects and animals. So this therefore brings the condition of our orchid's red bulbs, leaves and in some cases root tips to another critical situation that focuses on survival ... one of defence. Maybe we can add this to our list of reasons for the red in some of the orchid plants found growing in difficult conditions.

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

Okay, another line of thought. . .If both green and red hues seem to be healthy, why would the new growth be red on so many of the Laelia's?

There must be some sort of benefit. Protection of the outer layers. . .thickening or a hardening of the outer layers to protect against tissue damage or water loss? New growth could sure use protection as it's maturing.

Sure would be interesting to find out! Gonna go Google. . .

Everything I am reading, indicates a little too much light! What are the lighting conditions that you're growing yours in, specifically. Are you sure it's too little light?

The red is the anthocyanin pigment equivalen of a tan. By producing that darker colour, the plant protects it chlorophyll from being bleached out and rendered ineffective by the intense light at high elevations (thin air, more UV).

-Cj

[Bird Song Farm]

Gwen, that sure looks good to me.
I don't know what you guys are doing but I'm certainly not doing it. Mine looks like it's in its death throws.
AL

[gmdiaz]

Al, mine is under two T5 bulbs. . .maybe eight inches below the bulbs, supplemented with sunlight.

I water it every few days early in the morning.

It's got really good air circulation - two larger fans running 24/7 in a plastic covered grow rack. Good humidity, around 60%. Temps high 82, low 72 yesterday, for instance.

And I do not disturb the roots. . .no transplanting, moving about and such. I try to just leave it alone.

Oh, and I use MSU and KLN.

[gmdiaz]

WOW! Thanks Tropic & Orchidflowerchild. . .that makes perfect sense to me.

Thank you for clearing up that little mystery!!!

[Bird Song Farm]

Originally Posted by gmdiaz

Al, mine is under two T5 bulbs. . .maybe eight inches below the bulbs, supplemented with sunlight.

I water it every few days early in the morning.

It's got really good air circulation - two larger fans running 24/7 in a plastic covered grow rack. Good humidity, around 60%. Temps high 82, low 72 yesterday, for instance.

And I do not disturb the roots. . .no transplanting, moving about and such. I try to just leave it alone.

Oh, and I use MSU and KLN.

Light could be my problem, I depend on the sun and there as been very little of it. I haven't disturbed the roots, it's still in original pot/media. It has lost three of the old pseudo bulbs and the three left are shriveled. I have it in a south window and water sparingly daily. The water drains through immediately. I use KLN. I think it hates me.
Al

[gmdiaz]

Yep more light and more water too, once it gets back up to speed.

Anything that I grow in real open media, I water often!

I've been using a capfull of the KLN per gallon of RO water. . .and only a quarter dose of the MSU. . .just lately, at the beginning of the new growth spurt.

I'll quite doing that soon and let it go back to slower growing, and resting.

Oh and I bet good water quality is really important for this one too. I just use the RO water.

Try it and I know you'll soon be in goods again with your little reginae.