Phragmipedium Nicolle Tower purplish blotching help

[JennyNE]

Hi Everyone! My name is Jen and this is my first time posting here. Hopefully I choose the right thread and do this correctly. Lol. I live in Maine and grow Phals and Phrags. The Phrags I just starting growing Oct 2019. So they are still very new to me. Also this is my first winter using a grow light. I have a full spectrum Sunblaster T5 4ft light. They have been under the light for about 1 month now. Anyhow the one I’m having an issue with is the Nicolle Tower ( d’alessandroi X longifolium. It is now has its first flower and a second on the way. But I’m nervous about the base of the plant. It has purplish blotching. The leaves are light green, but at the bottom right where it meets the medium the purpling seems to be spreading upwards to under the leaves. Under the first leaf I noticed a small split starting and also the purple coloring. Also when I got the plant it was in rock wool which I am not used to so i reporting into medium orchiata bark, small charcoal, sponge rock, and small pieces of spagnum moss. There is a top dressing of spagnum. We have a wood stove in the house so I try to keep moisture around the top. Put temps are 73 to 74 daytime and 64 to 67 nighttime. Humidity around 35 to 45%. I feed distilled water mixed with 1/4 1/4 well water. Come out as 10ppm with ph of around 6. Also I feed 2 times weekly around 150ppm (MSU fert + calmag) and monthly with Kelpmax. Sorry for the LONG post but I thought as much info as possible would help. Long story short anyone have ideas of why the purpling is happening??

[Diane56Victor]

Ive read that purple colouring on leaves could be a reaction to too much light.
But having said that I dont grow Phals or Phrags, hopefully someone with more experience will post.

[JennyNE]

I thought about that. And magnesium deficiency but I’m nervous of adding to much Epsom salts to a Phrag since they are said to be sensitive to salts. Idk. Thank you for the reply!

[WaterWitchin]

If you’re feeding MSU with calmag, doesn’t need any more.

Likely light related. Especially if you just started using new lights. A blush of color is right about what promotes a good bloom. But easy to get too carried away with that. Might move them a tad further from the light.

[WaterWitchin]

If you’re feeding MSU with calmag, doesn’t need any more.

Likely light related. Especially if you just started using new lights. A blush of color is right about what promotes a good bloom. But easy to get too carried away with that. Might move them a tad further from the light.

[JennyNE]

I think you are probably right. It’s definitely blooming well enough. I moved it so the tallest leaf is 9inches away from the light. I’m not experienced with grow lights yet but hopefully this helps. Thank you for the advice 🙂

[JennyNE]

I think you are probably right. It’s definitely blooming well enough. I moved it so the tallest leaf is 9inches away from the light. I’m not experienced with grow lights yet but hopefully this helps. Thank you for the advice

[SouthPark]

Do you use diffuser elements along with those grow lights?

And is the region around the split feeling dry? If dry and relatively hard, then ok.

[aliceinwl]

For what it’s worth in I’ve usually seen purple in response to high light. In some Phalaenopsis I’ve also seen it in response to prolonged cold conditions or infection. If its a light issue, as long as there’s no burning I just let them go purple and the plants grow and bloom great.

[JennyNE]

I’m don’t know about the diffuser. The light is a SunBlaze T5 HO 120v fluorescent 4ft with 2 bulbs. I have been turning it on for 14 hours a day. The tallest leaf was about 6inches away. I thought that if the leaves showed no burn signs it would be ok. They never get hot. But I wonder now if it’s too much. Other than the purpling it looks good. Maybe I should play it safe and keep further away....????

---------- Post added at 08:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 PM ----------

Oh. And the split is dry. Sorry I almost forgot!