Light levels for Phal gigantea?

[camille1585]

I got a Phal gigantea last fall, and so far, it's doing pretty good! I've had it 6 months and it's already grown one leaf and just starting another I just wish it would start some new roots (the existing roots are nice and healthy, but not very numerous) to support the increasingly massive leaves.

I know that this species can take A LOT more light than most other Phal species, but how much is enough? I have it in a south window where it now gets something like 6 hours of direct light a day. I'll either pull it back from the window a bit or add a sheer curtain as the strength of the light intensifies (Just so you know, the Netherlands is level with southern Canada, so not extremely strong sunlight, but still enough to burn in the summer).

The leaves are now a light yellow/green. Is that too much for it?

[Daethen]

Looks great to me. Probably at the highest level it should get to, but not burning.

[Brooke]

This species grows high in the trees and does receive much more light than most Phals. They also require constant high levels of air movement to keep the leaves cool.

I would increase the air movement and possibly add a cal/mag supplement to your regular fertilizer routine. The leaves are a little lighter than any of mine which receive quite a bit of sun until about 2 p.m.

Brooke

[camille1585]

Thanks for the advice I'll rig up a small fan to blow across the leaves. Why the cal/mag supplement? I generally don't have any problems with deficiencies since the tap water has a decent amount.

[Brooke]

I thought there might be a magnesium deficiency because the leaves are light for a gig. If the leaves darkened, then the light level is not harming the leaf color.

Brooke