Phal NOID with variegated leaves?

[Margit]

About two weeks ago I purchased a small NOID Phal in one of the local grocery stores.
The plant looked very healthy and was growing a new leaf, so I decided to take a chance, especially since it was half off!
It has been a little over a week now since I put it into my kitchen window and I have started to notice that the two upper leaves are developing a lighter colored outline. It looks very pretty I think.
What I would like is some reasurance that it really is a variegated leaf Orchid and not a problem.

[mayres]

The outline shown would not fall under the normal description of "variegation". You may know that there are a few genetic variagated phals that have mixed green/white leaves? Of course they are quite different than what you are experiencing. I have quite a few phals and none of them have shown this phenomena so I'm not sure what causes what you have noted (?). Which direction does your window face? How much light does it get? Overall your plant appears to be fairly healthy from what can be seen. Enjoy!

[Margit]

Hello Mayres and thank you for your reply.

The pictures I have seen of variegated Phal leaves do look different from what mine shows. I do agree.

The window is facing South (Puget Sound area in WA) with dappled shading from about 2 p.m. til 4 p.m.
The plant is sitting aprox. 10 inches from the window.

I do not have a whole lot of experience with Orchids, but the pictures I have seen of leaf scorch due to too much light look different as well.

Margit

[jkofferdahl]

I've never seen leaves exactly like this either, but they look healthy. I'd say it's possible that the plant is getting light on the low end of what a Phal likes, and would suggest moving it a bit closer to the window. Watch it for a few days to make sure it's not gotten TOO close, but I think it should be fine.

[mayres]

Just keep an eye on it and post another pic if things change markedly. One way to tell if it is getting too much sun would be to touch the surface with your hands - if the leaf is physically getting warm from the rays of the sun you should move it back further. Another option would be to provide more air circulation across the plant to take away any surface heat. Southern exposures are usually too intense for phals, but if yours is back far enough and/or if you have trees, eaves, etc. to provide adequate protection from the direct rays of the sun you should be OK. Enjoy.