How dark is too dark?

[mamasanlzn]

I keep reading that dark green leaves is a symptom of a failing plant. My noID phal have really dark leaves and is getting darker in the window sill. It is starting its third new leaf and has roots shooting out of it like it is trying to win a contest. Please explain what is too dark?

[Cym Ladye]

I do not think "too dark" applies to Phals. A better test of plant health is to see if the leaves are turgid and fleshed out and the new leaves grow to be larger than the one preceding it. That indicates a happy Phal.

Roots "shooting out everywhere" probably indicates a medium breaking down and a plant in need of repotting.

Read the stickie on "The Phal abuse ends here" at the beginning of the Beginner Discussions for further help on Phals.

[mamasanlzn]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

Roots "shooting out everywhere" probably indicates a medium breaking down and a plant in need of repotting.

I am getting new roots coming from the plant. All the "old" roots are still inside the container.

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by mamasanlzn

I am getting new roots coming from the plant. All the "old" roots are still inside the container.

Phals are epiphytic, meaning growing on trees, in this case. As the new leaves mature, roots begin on the stem under them at the same time, to grab onto the tree in the wild. Once the pot is full of roots or the medium gets old and mushy, the roots seek new places to grow into.

CL

[Orchid Whisperer]

Leaf color in Phals can be partly due to environment, partly due to heredity.

Typically my Phals seem happiest when the leaves are a Kelly green or a bit darker, to possibly as dark as a forest green. Darker, between forest green and British racing green, they don't flower, or don't flower well. It is not unusual to have leaves that also have a bit of red in them under good light; for the species and hybrids that can have red pigment in the leaves, a bit of red is a good thing (but can darken the leaves).

[NYCorchidman]

I agree.

Different phals have different "tone" of green, although most have dark green.

I buy my phals in bloom, and I make a mental note of the leaf color of each. Then I try my best to keep the color as is, and you know you are doing the right thing.

Dark leaf color thing is probably confusing the hell out of many people out there. lol

[RJSquirrel]

....sometimes the leaf will exhibit faint shading if its a darker color like purple flowered. lots of Anthocyanin spotting that can give you an illusion of a dark green leaf when in fact it is not. other phals can have almost yellowish tinged leaves and are perfectly healthy where as others if they were yellow would be dead.
looking at your leaf color can give you some clues on the health ov your plant but there are other more obvious clues as to the present condition. it can take a long time for root dysfunction to make it to a nice green leaf. and many times all you have left s that nice green leaf

[mamasanlzn]

Here is the color of the leaves and the spike. I think it is a almost a british racing green color on the face of the leaf but closer to the stem it is yellowish. So the blooms will be ugly??

[vjo]

I think that plant looks fine, spike looks good too! Your flowers will probably be beautiful....Jean

[NYCorchidman]

Again, phals leaf color can be highly variable.

Yours look totally fine given that I do not see any legging of the stem or leaves, the spike is coming out really thick, so that green should be the normal for your phal I would say.