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[ychall]

Hi - I have been growing Phalaenopsis orchids for the last few years. At first I put them near windows but didn't have much luck with blooms. Then I set up a table and hung led grow lights over it. They bloomed almost constantly at first but had purple leaves. Research said it was from too much light.
Have raised the lights a couple of times until leaves are now green. Fought off a spider mite infestation and repotted. Doing okay but not great. I do have algae growing on the planting medium. Tried Physan 20 and Hydrogen Peroxide to no avail. Would something designed to keep birdbaths clear work without hurting the plants? Description says it won't hurt the birds.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Algaecides are plant killers. Phals. are plants. Often algae in the medium means more fertilizer than necessary, or watering more than necessary.

Have a look at a thread about Phal. growing, and see how it compares to what you're doing. From the left yellow menu choose Forums, then Phalaenopsis - Hybrids. At the top read the advice from Eric Goo of Phoenix Orchids. He discusses light, water, fertilizer, temperatures and potting.

[Kittyfrex]

First of all, welcome and have a nice time.

Algae is common, especially on moss, when something is often moist. If you are using it, layer a bit of bark on top and if it's a clear pot, put it into a decorative one; It may not remove the algae, but it should stop it's spread.

Purple-ish leaves are not uncommon, especially in phals whose flowers have a lot of purple/magenta in them. I have one that even has pink root-tips, like vibrant pink. Growing as if nobody's buisniess, making huge flowers. Purple pygmentation is rarely a medical issue. In orchids especially, a rich green is not always a good color and could even mean lackluster light. Other indicators are better at showing what you need to change - look for burns or dehydration; it's the sun and heat that is bad, not the light itself. I grow most of my phals on a mixture of super high natural light and a ton of supplementary light; none of them mind. If the plant is producing leaves and roots and it's leaves are firm and not missgaped, the color is merely that individual's "skin tone".

As for blooms - many if not most phal's want you to drop the nighttime temperature to about 18°c in autumn-winter. There's a lot of variation, and some don't care at all, but you will have best luck with that. And as with leaves, i had absolutley no difference in bloom under a high-light enviroment.

P.s. i wouldn't trat the algae with more things, not after two different treatmans and with something not made for plants. If it's really bad, or you just can't stand it, repot the plant/s and just make sure if it's a clear pot to use a decorative one.

[Ray]

Welcome aboard!

[Waterdog111]

🤗 welcome

[rbarata]

Welcome, ychall!
I may be wrong but mites on phals is not common as they have thick leaves.

[tmoney]

howdy, and welcome to the ob!

algae sux....thats all i wanted to add.

and it smells bad when it goes off

[Roberta]

Welcome!

Light, helped with excess fertilizer, encourages algae. Quite harmless, just not attractive. Putting clear pot into a decorative pot will solve two problems:
1. Will reduce the light, so reduce the algae
2. You won't have to look at it.

Orchids in nature, with lots of moisture and sunlight, have lots of algae... no problem. It's not something to treat... reduce it by modifying your conditions, and then accept it as part of nature. And no peroxide anywhere near the roots! It damages the little root hairs of the growing tips.