B. Digbyana

[LugiaLover]

I got a new member in my little flock yesterday a B. Digbyana. It has a healthy number of bulbs, 11 with leaves and 5 without. It's in a 6in pot and has wonderful roots. For some odd reason, though, the outsides of the leaves are purplish red, the rhizome is healthy green though. Is there something wrong with this plant? It's currently housed away from everyone else. Also any care tips would be helpful.

And since I made a topic I'll also add that I got a Paph. Shin Yi Weber and unidentified blotched phal. If anyone knows what the phal might be, I'd love to hear. And any care instructions on these.

Thanks!!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The purplish-red is anthocyanin pigmentation. It's like the plant's sunscreen. The pigmentation usually kicks in when there's alot of light reaching the plant, but not enough to fry it.

Be careful not to give it more light than it has already.

There's nothing wrong with it.

[Izzie]

Several of my phals have that same phenomenon going on, glad to hear it's what I thought it was.

[PaphMadMan]

The pigment just means the plant has been getting a near optimal level of light for this species. It does need very bright light. In native habitat it can get open exposure to full direct sunlight growing on cactus.

[trdyl]

Your B. digbyana can be treated like a Cattleya which I am sending you a link for care instructions as well as for you Paph and Phal.

AOS | Cattleya
AOS | Paphiopedilum
AOS | Phalaenopsis