Is my Phal violacea supposed to have pale leaves?

[susiep]

Some advice please! I bought this plant at the Redlands show in May from Carter and Homes (Phal violacea coerulea #7 x Phal violacea coerulea #3) No kidding, that's what the tag says. Anyway it has very pale leaves. Is it getting too much or too little light? This bathroom is very bright and other plants are doing well in there. It is so delicate looking I didn't dare put it outside in the south Fla sun and rain. Here are pics of it when I got it in May, it's room, and today next to a baby den for a color contrast. I would appreciate any suggestions.

[Swamper]

WOW!!!! Nice bathroom....I've heard too much light makes them light, not enough turns them dark, I don't know and maybe shouldn't say but....WOW Nice bathroom

[susiep]

Thanks! No one ever uses that tub. Then one day it dawned on me... another place to keep orchids! Oh yeah! They really like it in there. Very sunny, very easy to water them. I may put shelves inset in the windows (I could fit 12 more!) Sshhh! I haven't told my husband about the shelves yet. He thinks I have a problem.

But about the phal violacea: too much or too little sun or something else? It is so pale! The previous pic actually makes it look darker than it is. Suggestions?

[Shirley]

Hi Susie, I'm not an expert but, in my experience, any phal that has violacea in it has paler leaves than my other phals so I would consider it normal.

Got a kick out of your picture because our en suite has an identical set up -- corner tub, glass block windows, and a vanity at each end! Unfortunately ours is used all the time so I can't put my orchids there. The light exposure would be excellent. Also the sills as they are are too narrow to hold pots. Oh well!

[susiep]

Shirley, where there is a will, there is a way. You know you want to put orchids in that bathroom! Oh and thanks for your opinion. Maybe this is normal color for this plant's leaves. It's growing so I guess it's ok.

[Gin]

It looks good not to light colored, mine is about the same . Gin

[mehitabel]

I'm with Gin on this-- leaf color looks good to me. A healthy vio leaf will be what I would call "granny apple green". They aren't as dark as many other phals.

However, you say "delicate". Sometimes the leaves seem *thin*, and like you, I don't like that very much. Doesn't seem quite right.

When I find those thin, delicate leaves on a new plant, sometimes a dose of epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) toughens the leaves up, or at least new leaves will come in tougher and thicker. I don't know why, but it works. The color may be a shade darker, but still in that granny apple range.

The tougher thicker leaves look better to me, and rightly or wrongly, I think they are more resistant to pests and rots.

Use the plain old Walgreen's type epsom salts, app 1 tbsp/gallon (or just put a dry pinch into the pot and water it in next time you water.

PS I used epsom salts for years to green up plants like jasmines and gardenias. It's perfectly safe.