not new to orchids, but new to the skills!

[jojox]

Hi out there, i'm just a wandering this lovely site looking for all sorts of answers. I think i'll find them, but i thought i'd start by introducing myself. I'm in the south of the uk & have had various orchids for a few years & have only just recently become obsessed by them as they have started to do things!

I have a Phalaenopsis (Yellow Treasure i think) it has 3 flower spikes, it came with 2 & sprouted the third about 2-3 months ago,has been in constant flower for 13 months and is just gearing up to open 10 new flowers. It seems mostly happy where it has always been on the south facing windowsill. I give it tap water which comes from a well in the village. I have never fed it. Generally i don't water it until the condensation in the clear pot goes away. The problem is the leaves are paler in colour than they were but not yellow. They are shiny & feel healthy (a new one is even sprouting from the middle) but i thought they were supposed to stay a rich green. Is there something i should be doing??? i thought about moving it into shade as the sunlight might have bleached it out, but as most people know the sun did not visit the uk this year!

Any suggestions welcome

[mayres]

Hi Jojox - If you could update your profile to show your location it will help others in future posts (even though I can see in this thread you are from the UK). WELCOME!
You might read the culture information on phals on the American Orchid Society site - it is a fairly concise one pager for both beginner and intermediate growers - a good place to get the basics. http://orchidweb.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx
Phals receiving proper lighting are actually NOT a deep dark rich green - this typically indicates not enough light.
By the sound of your report you must be doing most things right - how about a pic when your plant is in bloom - we always like those! Enjoy, Mike

[robb]

hello! welcome!

your plant sounds fabulous! 13 months of straight blooming?? congratulations

the paler colour of your leaves may be due to low light, even a few inches away from the sun-line of a window will be quite dark for plants, but our eyes see little difference. it sounds like the plant is quite happy with it's conditions, i hesitate to suggest moving it, thus disturbing the blooming. perhaps a wiser orchidian than i can suggest something else.

[jojox]

I am soooo happy. it is such a pretty plant & i look at it every day because it fascinates me so much. i think i will just carry on in the same vein. i just didn't want to muck it all up after so long flowering. once i get this computer malarkey sorted i'll post some pics. It's so nice to know i have been loving it correctly. Thankyou

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by robb

the paler colour of your leaves may be due to low light,

It's really just the opposite, dark leaves are a sign of low light and pale leaves a sign of high light. When light levels are low a plant needs more clorophyll to produce the energy it needs, thus darker leaves.

I think your culture sounds just fine.

[jbigio]

Welcome to the site sounds like the plant is happy the only thing I would suggest is to start to use an orchid fertilizes. I feed mine every other watering with 1/2 the strength on the label.
Joe