Phal Leaves - reddish edges and floppy

[tedro]

to tell you the truth mine were never dark or waxy after I got it and for all of its youth I guess youth over the last two years I used to complain (here, too) that they *weren’t dark and waxy. I thought they were supposed to be that way, Dark glossy/waxy. And I started experimenting with light way back even originally because I used to keep it by the window and then move it under a regular roll lightbulb that wasn’t even pointed at it.
but for the last two years I’ve also heard that lamp you can see in the picture. I think I just need another lamp just like that one. Anyway I’ll be experimenting again even moving it a little closer seems to have taken away some of the black it seems to be that sensitive.

I also think that the last couple of weeks have been stressful because everything kind of got wet and dark maybe the last month. Then I got a table to put it on which is not quite as close to the window. Then I got the shade because they chop down my tree outside and it looks grotesque.

but now that we’re all set up with a table and a re-pot that should last a very long time we’re going to get the light right how we like it. I’ve had a timer for a long time and I run at 7 to 7. it even already has an extra plug in it.

But I live in the same room so I have to have it so I can order so that it doesn’t …annoy me, The light, of course. I don’t do bright. not without sunglasses.

[Shadeflower]

Hey Tedro, how is yours doing?
Mine is liking high light.
I even managed to drop it and crack a couple of leaves, the whole plant fell out of the pot, pebbles everywhere but to "punish" me it is producing a flower spike

[tedro]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

Hey Tedro, how is yours doing?
Mine is liking high light.
I even managed to drop it and crack a couple of leaves, the whole plant fell out of the pot, pebbles everywhere but to "punish" me it is producing a flower spike

yep! knocked mine over at least once.

mine’s well. working/observing in the red leaves still.

i can’t tell if it’s a spike.
i think the bottom of a new growth …air-root will turn sugary white; spike will turn woody.

honestly, i think others may be right on the red (darkened or spotted leaves) regarding TOO MUCH light. be careful!

was that red/purple leaf previously green? have you had yours long? i’ve had mine since sep 2019.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

I think trying more light is worth trying.
These darker leaved phals seem to be able to take it well.

I have proof that you are right, at least for the three dark green phalaenopsis I used for an experiment. Reasoning that the very dark green color might be an indicator for insufficient light, I moved three of my dark green phalaenopsis to a location with much brighter filtered light. They began growing far faster than they had for years (two new leaves in the last couple months), and further, the new leaves are a vibrant light green rather than the dark green they had been. In the past, this phalaenopsis grew a new leaf in the course of a year! Additionally, the dark red pigments on the undersides of the leaves is greatly reduced.

In the lower left of the photo below is a very dark green leaf showing the color of the leaves before increasing the light levels. There are more dark green leaves on the plant on the far side of the pot, but they are shaded making the color comparison more difficult. The top right shows the color of the new leaves on the side of the plant receiving the most light. Note this photo shows three identical plants in the same pot. There were two other plants in my experiment. The results were the same for them.

Conclusion: The dark green phalaenopsis I tested were dark green because they are not receiving sufficient light. At least for the plants I tested, the rate of growth increased, the leaves became a lively light green, and the red pigments on the bottom of the leaves was decreased. The latter was not a result I expected. These orchids were telling me they needed more light, but I wasn't listening.

[tedro]

Originally Posted by K-Sci

I have proof that you are right, at least for the three dark green phalaenopsis I used for an experiment. Reasoning that the very dark green color might be an indicator for insufficient light, I moved three of my dark green phalaenopsis to a location with much brighter filtered light. They began growing far faster than they had for years, and further, the new leaves are a vibrant light green rather than the dark green they had been. Additionally, the dark red pigments on the undersides of the leaves is greatly reduced.

In the lower left of the photo below is a very dark green leaf showing the color of the leaves before increasing the light levels. There are more dark green leaves on the plant on the far side of the pot, but they are shaded making the color comparison more difficult. The top right shows the color of the new leaves on the side of the plant receiving the most light. Note this photo shows three identical plants in the same pot. There were two other plants in my experiment. The results were the same for them.

Conclusion: The dark green phalaenopsis I tested were dark green because they are not receiving sufficient light. At least for the plants I tested, the rate of growth increased, the leaves became a lively light green, and the red pigments on the bottom of the leaves was decreased. The latter was not a result I expected. These orchids were telling me they needed more light, but I wasn't listening.

VERY INTERESTING, thanks!

i’d really like to see the light you guys were and are now using!

well, more light didn’t/isn’t helping mine. plus, Mine always had the same light. And this only started happening this season after I repotted. It may have a fungus or food isn’t being taken properly due to some lacking element. But everything is the same as it has been for two years other than that.

I’ve also read that there are a bunch of reasons for those types of leaves not just light.

idk. still watching! I had to start opening the lanai door twice a day because I put a shader outside What should I roll up and down per day. I never used to open it or go out there. But a long time ago my parlor palm which is really big and pretty now, Are used to crack the door open for the palm, before I ever got the orchid, and after a while the palm was sick with these black things all over it I had to wash it and cut it back and keep the damn door closed. Whatever it was flew in on the wind. but now that it survived I have super palm!

but I don’t know could be something like that for me. More will be revealed.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by tedro

VERY INTERESTING, thanks!

i’d really like to see the light you guys were and are now using!

I will measure it tomorrow, assuming it isn't overcast, and post the light levels.

well, more light didn’t/isn’t helping mine. plus, Mine always had the same light.

I don't know your setup, and wasn't offering an assessment of the needs of anyone's plant. I was speaking only to the question of Phalaenopsis light levels in general.

For what it's worth, none of the plants in the 2021 photos on this thread look like they have a health problem. Several of mine have a lot of red color like those in those photos, but it's normal. But honestly, I'm not clear on what problem needs to be solved, if any.

-Keith

[tedro]

Originally Posted by K-Sci

I will measure it tomorrow, assuming it isn't overcast, and post the light levels.

I don't know your setup, and wasn't offering an assessment of the needs of anyone's plant. I was speaking only to the question of Phalaenopsis light levels in general.

For what it's worth, none of the plants in the 2021 photos on this thread look like they have a health problem. Several of mine have a lot of red color like those in those photos, but it's normal. But honestly, I'm not clear on what problem needs to be solved, if any.

-Keith

i totally agree, i hope!
it’s just different after 2 years.

i mean, mine’s making a spike, so i guess it’s fairly happy.

[Shadeflower]

updated pic with phal it grows next to:



the last pic is from beginning of the year when it was receiving too little light causing deformed growth with very thin leaves.

before it was in a west window behind a curtain filtering out a lot of light, now it is in a west window next to my cymbidium getting full sun that is partially blocked by a wall so it gets the last few hours of light as it sets in the west.

[tedro]

opps.

---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:27 PM ----------



ok, here goes, more (closer, both lamps on [12 hrs]; plus normal window light) light experiment.

closer is all i’m doing, let’s try it for sure this time, on the “red” spots and more.

i used only the light on the left at 6” or less, until 4 months ago, if that.

i agree that may be a solution looking for a problem, but i want to find out IF i can affect red spots and red areas, with light.

: bowing