Maroon leaves on Phal

[Kratos]

My oldest orchid was a gift many years ago, it blooms every year and brings out new leaves every year, they are flexible and can be bent without any feeling of it being brittle etc, everything about it seems fine, other than the simple fact the leaves look very unorchid like!!! (The picture shows the plant plus a leaf from another orchid for easy comparison)

Obvious answer is that it needs more light... but as everything else about it seems decent is it possible that some orchids just have darker leaves?

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi,
A reddish tinge to the top of leaves usually means the plant is getting to much sun. A pink/purple coloration to the underside of phal leaves usually means the plant has pink/purple blossoms or pink/purble in its background. As with everything with orchids there are expections to all rules. I'd check the plant through out the day to see if the sun is hitting it at a certain time. You can also tell if the plant is getting to much sun by feeling the leaves. If they are warm/hot to the touch they are getting to much sun.
Hope this helps and I'm sure others will have some more ideas.
Al

[tuvoc]

I have a couple of phals with reddish leaves, but not quite that reddish. However, if it grows and blooms every year, I'd keep doing whatever you are doing. If it ain't broke, why fix it?

Kim

[quiltergal]

I have one that is darker than that. It's a maroon/white harlequin phal. Like Al said leaf color is related somewhat to flower color. If you're growing it the same as your other light green Phals I wouldn't worry. I think it's just a genetic thing.