Fading phal flowers?

[greenpassion]

This is really odd. Earlier this evening I posted here about a particular phal of mine that is developing fading flowers. I can't find that post anywhere. Odd. So I 'll have to write it all out again apparently.
One of my phals (I have 27) is one that I've had for around 4 years. She routinely throws up branching double spikes with beautiful peach flowers. She stays in bloom for 5 to 6 months. That said, I noticed the other day that her flowers look sort of washed out. Conversely she's also still putting out buds and they are opening as usual. The new flowers from these latest buds are rich in color, while, as I mentioned, the older ones are faded looking. Has anyone ever had this issue? This phal is extremely healthy, growing new leaves and roots all the while spiking and blooming. Just wondering what's up...??

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Any photos showing what you describe? Just based off the written description, it sounds normal. But it seems as if it doesn't look normal to you based off of comparisons from the other Phals you have and based off of the previous blooms you've had from the same plant.

To me, the written description is not terribly clear to me as to why you feel it is out of the ordinary. Perhaps a photo might clear things up a bit.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

This is really odd. Earlier this evening I posted here about a particular phal of mine that is developing fading flowers. I can't find that post anywhere. Odd. So I 'll have to write it all out again apparently.
One of my phals (I have 27) is one that I've had for around 4 years. She routinely throws up branching double spikes with beautiful peach flowers. She stays in bloom for 5 to 6 months. That said, I noticed the other day that her flowers look sort of washed out. Conversely she's also still putting out buds and they are opening as usual. The new flowers from these latest buds are rich in color, while, as I mentioned, the older ones are faded looking. Has anyone ever had this issue? This phal is extremely healthy, growing new leaves and roots all the while spiking and blooming. Just wondering what's up...??

The peach-colored flowers are actually created by breeding a yellow Phal with a lavender one, such that the lavender color is an overlay on the yellow. ("Art shade". The yellow tends to fade as the flowers age, leaving a sort of muddy lavender color. Some hybrids fade more than others, but it's normal for this type of color.

[greenpassion]

Here are some pics but I'm not sure if they're going to show what I'm talking about.

[greenpassion]

Thank you for your replies though. And to be honest I don't know that I ever really noticed before if the flowers faded in earlier blooms.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It may be partially what Roberta is describing from what I'm seeing in the photos.

Generally speaking, they look pretty normal to me.

I will add that maybe you're also seeing the veins on the flowers look more pronounced as they age.

What maybe adds to the effect is the speckling on the base of the petals and the lateral sepals.

Just as a fun tidbit, it seems to me that this hybrid has a little Phalaenopsis stuartiana in it.

[greenpassion]

I hope you're right Phillip. I would love to have a stuartiana. I have so many orchids I have no more window space or space under my lights. But I am a total addict and yesterday I picked up a Sogo Yucatan V3. Just what I need period I'm Still Holding Out for Pure stuartiana.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Check your pm.