Den Phal Madonna sunshine leaf color

[Gil]

Second year I've had this Den Phal and but first year with new growth. Placed outdoors and it receives morning sun afternoon shade. It is with several other Dendrobiums but this is the only Den Phal. As you can see the leaves have turned as red as the flower it acquires. No other Den shows this trait.
Just wondering if it's getting too much sun or the sun just brought out it's color and all is ok?
Thanks

P.S. Flower from this is my avatar.

[MiniMoth]

I recently had a dendrobium phalaenopsis tiny new growth start turning that red/purple color while it was standing under low hanging lights. Moved it out into the room and it's growing green now (no direct light at all, just a south facing room).

[Gil]

Thanks. Thing is the Den needs a lot of light and is suppose to like direct early or late day sunlight. Perhaps the Phal in it's "bloodline" has a problem with that? LOL! I don't know.

[MiniMoth]

found this (about plants in general):

"Purple leaves are usually caused by a pigment called anthocyanin. Anthocyanin absorbs green and yellow light, causing them to appear deep red or purple to our eye. "

"new leaves and seedlings often have red-purple leaves to help protect them from sun damage"

"..purple leaves on some plants... may act as a natural "sunscreen," protecting the cells of the plant from too much light. Plants that experience too much sunlight can suffer from photoinhibition, a reduction in the plant's ability to carry out photosynthesis."

[Gil]

Thank You much. Quite informative information. Guess I'll try a bit shadier spot (oak tree shading) on my deck and hope it's enough sunshine for flowers instead of keiki's (which I really wouldn't mind).

[MiniMoth]

Let's wait for the experts to chime in Maybe this is an expected behavior for the new canes..

I'm kinda worried about my Den Phal too ('Polar Fire'). It looked stressed under lights but now it's probably not getting enough "sun"...

Btw, I thought keiki production was provoked by disturbances in the "rest" period (watering, temperature), and not the growing season events.. Hmm... found this article (painful to read - white on black, but looks interesting)..

www.ricardogupi.blogspot.com/2012/11/dendrobium-keiki-what-causes-them-to.html

[Gil]

What I read on line was not enough light during the growth period and you get keiki's good light equals flowers. Read that in a few places. My other "regular" Dens are loving the sun including my NOID supermarket med sized Dens. No red, same amount of sunshine as "Madonna".