Phal Leaves

[grandmapenguin]

I'm sure this question has been covered before but I don't know how to look it up. Should Phal leaves be deep green I have them outdoors in a semi shaded area under an eave of the house. They are facing east so they only get morning light. Is there a rule of thumb as to what color should they be Thanks for any help you might send my way.
Terry

[englandfx]

Phal leaves will be the color they are gentically suppose to be.

Yes, the light intensity would affect this color, but more than likely it is genetics.

[mehitabel]

Yes, it's true that ancestry affects leaf color: phals with dark pink flowers often have leaves with red undertones; violaceas have Granny Apple green leaves, etc.

However, the amount of light also influences color. Here's how Bob Gordon explained it in his Survey:

A phal uses certain colors (primarily orange and red) from the spectrum, and *reflects* the others. The reflected colors influence the color the human eye sees.

When the light received is below optimum, the plant expands the area of the spectrum it uses. It starts to use the yellow light, so it no longer reflects that, and the leaves appear to the human eye to be a darker, even blue-er green.

When the light received is above optimum, the plant restricts the area of spectrum it uses. It stops using the red and yellow light, so begins to reflect those colors. Leaves either turn red or yellow (depending on ancestry).

This was the first time I'd seen an explanation of why leaf color changes with light, and why orchids of all types that are given too much light turn yellow.

[kid a]

I noticed with my phals when they wee getting too much light the edges started to turn a dark purple color- on a phal that when I bought it it was not like that lol. But on the other hand like the naples night has a purple underside and slightly purple leaves so I think it would depend on the type of phal. But I would say it is fine unless you start seeing a black or purple start to form in the leaves.