phal leaf question - Orchid Board

mattryan · #1 03-03-2012, 11:41 PM

my question is I have noticed that all my phals that have grown new leaves since I got them all have seemed not as firm as the leaves it had when I purchased them. I know that they are getting enough light because all of them that have purple or dark flowers on the underside of the leaves are purple and the ones with yellow/white and or green flowers are a nice bright green colour (apple). Which the previous leaves do not have, they are all fairly dark in colour almost dark grass colour. I have been feeding 20-20-20 fert. so I know it isn't too much nitrogen. They aren't floppy, just bendable which the older ones are not. My question is do they firm up as they mature? I have only had phals just over a year so I am unsure of what they do as they age. I hope this isn't a silly question

Thanks

Cheryl

calypsoB · #2 03-04-2012, 12:21 AM

I would say that my new leaves are as firm as my older leaves with the exception of the ones falling off. How is your water regimen? How much(How often) fertilizer are you giving them? If you can post picks that is also very helpful.

billc · #3 03-04-2012, 04:51 AM

It sounds like the leaves are perfectly fine. Newer growth would be more pliable/ flexible the the older ones.
( My wife says as I get older, I get more set in my ways

)

Bill

tucker85 · #4 03-04-2012, 09:29 AM

I agree with Bill. New leaves are often thinner and softer than mature leaves. As they mature they get thicker and stronger.

camille1585 · #5 03-04-2012, 10:30 AM

Just to make a small correction, the purple on the underside of the leaves of the dark bloomed Phals usually has not much to do with light, they'll always be more or less purple. For all Phals it's the purple on the upper side of the leaf which is an indicator of strong light!

But otherwise I agree with what the 2 previous people said, young leaves are soft in the beginning, they should harden over the coming months.

mattryan · #6 03-04-2012, 01:21 PM

Thanks for the help. All the leaves look fine except for what I stated. Glad it's not something I have to be concerned about. Camille I do have I question..if it is not light turning them purple, then why have the previous leaves got no colour on them at all anywhere (the ones grown before my care) and the ones after alot lighter and/or undersides purple? I can post a picture if it would help. Thanks again everyone

Cheryl

camille1585 · #7 03-04-2012, 01:36 PM

On many of those purple undersided Phals it tends to be only the young leaves that have it. As the leaves age, it fades away. Not all Phals are like that though, my Phal schilleriana has purple under all the leaves.

I think to some extent light levels will influence the color underneath (ex, in very dim light there may be less purple), but if you really want to go by color as an indication of light levels, purple on the upperside is better. Ideally you want no more than a very slight tinge of color, usually it will be on the youngest leaves as well.

mattryan · #8 03-04-2012, 08:49 PM

Thanks camille for the info. It really helps to know what to look for if you don't have a light meter. I did not know that colour on leaves fades over time..my orchid lesson for the day! Thanks again everyone who posted! That's what I love about this site, you never stop learning unless you want to.

Cheryl