Too much light / leaves are red-burgandy

[Singingirl96]

Hi. About 2 weeks ago I got a new T5 light set up. I didn't put the bulbs to close to start because these plants weren't used to that much light. So far all plants are doing great under these bulbs, but one catleya in particular is not adjusting well. The 3 latest leaves have turned red/burgandy. I know that's their way to protect themselves from a sunburn.

I have since moved it from under the lights to a bright spot close to the lights.

The question is: Will the leaves go back to being green? or will they always be red?
This won't kill the plant will it?

[justatypn]

I have a few that have a red/burgandy glow, turning back will not happen at least in my experience. It will not hurt the overall plant and have seen where if the orchid pushes a bud it had been deformed, now if it would have been deformed prior, can't answer that, just my 2 cents....

[Wolf]

this will depend on the Cattleya, if a plant flowers dark colors such as Cattleya labiata, it is normal for the leaves acquire this color.

do not know if I could express myself, I do not speak very well English.

[Connie Star]

do not know if I could express myself, I do not speak very well English.[/QUOTE]

You did fine! Welcome to OB

[trdyl]

I have gotten my best bloomings when the reddish casts starts showing in the leaves and pseudobulbs.

[Singingirl96]

Here is a picture of the orchid in question.

Wolf - you can write in portuguese... I'm Brazilian too.

This is a BLC SHINFONG LUOHYANG ' TEN- MU YELLOW' it has never flowered for me so I can't show you what it looks like.

As you can see the leaves are almost brown. They are firm to the touch and not mushy at all.

Thanks for the help.

[Claire25]

Oh my! When I read your post about redness on orchid leaves exposed to bright light I was thinking that you had a plant with a little bit of an "orchid suntan" around the edges of its leaves...or perhaps an entire leaf flushed with red...such plants are likely to bloom well due to their evident happiness with the quantity of light they're receiving. Unfortunately, your plant's two leaves are not "tanned," but rather are badly burned. They will not recover, but future growth will be normal as long as you keep an eye on the light it's receiving. Did you just acquire this plant or recently move it into a sunny spot? I'm guessing it CAN handle a lot of sun (most of my Catts do fine outdoors in summer with a few hours of direct sun), but to be grown in this level of light it will need to be acclimated gradually, as you increase its exposure to light, over a period of weeks.

[Claire25]

Just re-read your first post, where you say you just switched to T5 fluorescents. Wow, I had no idea the light could be so intense under those...I guess fluorescent lighting has come a long way from the "shop lights" I used to grow my African Violets under (in the days before my orchid obsession)!

[Singingirl96]

Yeah. T5 high output lights. I have them on from 6am to 6pm and the shelves are also by an east facing window. There isn't enough light without the lights because of trees and undependable weather especially in the winter.

I moved all of my plants, this is the only one that acted this way... I guess I'll move it away from the lights for now.

thanks.

[trdyl]

How close were the leaves when this happened?