Cattleya Leaves changing colour.

[Spartan orchid]

Hello,

I am growing my cattleya under a balanced dual spectrum HPS 400 watt growlight.

They are growing new shoots and lovely healthy roots and flowers, but recently some of the darker ones have started to change leaf colour, the two in question are C. Intermedia Coerulea which was gark green now is blotching to apple green slowly.




and

a SLC 'Paprika'

That is streaking apple green again from dark green from when it was in the nursery four months ago.


and its new growth




I know I have enough light as Vandas grow and flower perfectly. So whats wrong? Or is it them adapting to better lighting conditions than what they were used to?

[cday2inflorida]

I really don't have a clue as to growing orchids under lights. I would imagine that if they came from a nursery that the lighting had to be low as you are just coming out of winter and the sunlight was low.
I grow outside in Florida. All my plants are an apple green as the are in a load of light. I have some that are really a yellowish color because of the amount of light.
As far as C. Intermedia coerulea...mine has a definitive blue cast to the leaves. I find many of my coerulea color forms have that bluish cast.
Your plants look good!

[fishmommy]

yep, mine do that too. They're adjusting to the light level change. Unfortunately, they can look kind of funny on old growth permanently, but the new growth should come in a nice uniform lighter green.

[Spartan orchid]

Thank you for the fast response, all makes sense.

[cday2inflorida]

a quick snapshot of color change
Rsc. Tatarown

And who said orchid leaves and PBs had to be boringly green.

[Spartan orchid]

wow they are beautiful!

[Becky15349]

Just adjusting to the light levels, nothing to be concerned about. That's good light, I do usually like to see reddish tones on the new growths. You'll get good blooming for sure, just make sure you have good air circulation so it doesn't get too hot.

[Spartan orchid]

Thanks for replying Becky