Maroon-leafed Phal?

[chopster01]

Hi,

Someone gave me an orchid because they were "killing" it (like it would stand a better chance with me, LOL).The leaves and the red-ish bloom (fall-winter) certainly look like a Phal. to me. Except the leaves are a lovely maroon, much like the color of the trim on this website. It isn't the kind of purple with green that you can get when light is too high. The leaves actually are maroon. My guess it was purchased in a regular flower shop and may be a common hybrid for some sort. Is this a common variation and I just have never heard of it before? Does anyone have an idea what it might be?

Charlie

[bellini girl]

Charlie, may be too much light?? Are you able to post . Then we can have a better idea of what ur dealing with

Lecent

[chopster01]

As I said, I doubt it is a question of too much light. It was solid maroon--no green at all--when I got it. It has resided in very low-light conditions, small east windows and/or under fluorescents at about 750 fc. No green has returned, though it has put out a new (maroon) leaf. I'm telling you, it's a maroon leaf. It may well not be a Phal at all, but some related orchid. I'm clueless-that's why I am asking. I don't have my camera handy, but I'll get a photo of it--it won't be in bloom for months yet, though.

[philoserenus]

i too think itz just too much light, it takes many many months for a plant to lose the maroon pigmentation. but then again, u might reject my 2-cent too.

the only other option is that this isnt an orchid at all, but thatz a totally different story.

[chopster01]

I'm truly sorry if I have given any offense. I did not mean to reject anyone's opinion out of hand or rudely.

I am absolutely sure it is an orchid. I do grow other orchids, including phals.

I was given this orchid over two years ago. It's always been a bit of a mystery. I have seen it bloom twice. It may not be a phal, but it is very phal-like. The leaves were maroon when I got it. It has been in an east window most of the time I've had it and under fluorescent lights for about a month. There has never been the slightest change in the hue of the leaves (really no hint of green) and new leaves come on in the same color.

You may indeed be absolutely correct. It may just be a question of too much light as you say, but then, it truly is taking "many, many" months for this one to shed even a bit of its maroon pigmentation. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

Thanks for your help.

[addictedcountryman]

well, actually, there are phals that have maroon leaves. I'm not sure how reliable this link is below, but I have indeed read several threads about red-leaved phals.
Why are my phal's leaves red, reddish or purple? -

[caseydoll]

Please try and post a picture. I have a few phals that have turned reddish/purple from light but they definitely aren't maroon. I'm sure once you post a pic someone can help you better and will be able to tell if it's a phal. I am really curious myself and would love to know!

[EdinAZ]

Some strains of Doritis pulcherrima can get pretty maroon-ish. Mine comes in maroon and gradually the mature leaves get more green in them, but the whole plant has a "maroon" look to it. I've seen some hybrids of this with a distinctly maroon tone to them also.

I'm sure this isn't what Chopster is talking about, but my Phal. schilleriana (4 of them) are all TOTALLY maroon on the underside of the leaves, with the top mottled (but mine have LOTS of maroon in the mottling). Maybe some hybrid of this carried the maroon to the top of the leaf as well?

Yes . . . a picture would help.

Ed

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by EdinAZ

Some strains of Doritis pulcherrima can get pretty maroon-ish. Mine comes in maroon and gradually the mature leaves get more green in them, but the whole plant has a "maroon" look to it. I've seen some hybrids of this with a distinctly maroon tone to them also.

I'm sure this isn't what Chopster is talking about, but my Phal. schilleriana (4 of them) are all TOTALLY maroon on the underside of the leaves, with the top mottled (but mine have LOTS of maroon in the mottling). Maybe some hybrid of this carried the maroon to the top of the leaf as well?

Yes . . . a picture would help.

Ed

Yes, Pulcherrima passes on a marron pigmentation to its offspring. It appears in some as a red new growth then turns green, others it is a green new growth which acquires red pigment as it matures, and in some cases it results in a completely maroon, or half maroon, plant. I have two hybrids with pulcherrima and one has purple underside with a maroon edge above, and the other is almost completely maroon but streaks of green appear as the foliage ages. This is normal and the plant should grow just fine, if anything try giving it more light to enhance the pigmentation, I give mine full early morning sun and light shade for the rest of the day, they love it.

Heres a pic of one of the flowers from this spring
the plant is DTPS. (pulcherrima x Buddah's Treasure)
It is the purple underneath and maroon edge, nice grower but six months from spike to first open flower, does your plant flower something like this?

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k...pykat/dfgg.jpg

[orchidtrader]

Well some red flowering phals will have reddish colored leaves just as some orange flowering phals will have an orange cast to them and this may be even more prevalent when grown in high light. This is completely normal in certain clones of phals. Just enjoy the extra color there is nothing wrong with you plant.