Purple under the leaves? Disease?

[Forever-mango]

I was wondering, when i get purple under leaves with Paphs. and Phals, is it lacking in micro-nutrients?









Regards
Stephen

[willowbanks]

Stephen, that red colouring is normal for this type of Paph.

[PhalNewbie89]

also if your phal has reddish tinted flower it is common for them to have some purple on their leaves.

[kmarch]

It's not a phal PhalNewbie, these are paphs. These spots are, as willowbanks has stated, normal or these types of paphs. I recommend doing some general study on paphs, perhaps using Phillip Cribb's books which give pretty detailed descriptions and pictures, so that you can recognize the various markings and colourations that are characteristic of these plants.

[Forever-mango]

Kevin, which books on Paphs. would you recommend?

[janet_a]

also, a reddish or purple tint on phal leaves can also mean the plant is getting lots of light--sort of like a suntan. in and of itself it's ok, but you may want to watch for possible sunburn if the light levels go any higher.

[PhalNewbie89]

Originally Posted by kmarch

It's not a phal PhalNewbie, these are paphs. These spots are, as willowbanks has stated, normal or these types of paphs. I recommend doing some general study on paphs, perhaps using Phillip Cribb's books which give pretty detailed descriptions and pictures, so that you can recognize the various markings and colourations that are characteristic of these plants.

They didn't post pics of phals but they asked about paphs and phals so I said wha I knew of phals :P

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by PhalNewbie89

They didn't post pics of phals but they asked about paphs and phals so I said wha I knew of phals :P

Yes, you're quite right. Eventhough I read "paphs and phals" I must have deleted the "phal" mention from my brain when I saw all of the paph pics. My apologies for not paying closer attention. I confess where paphs are involved, I have a tendency to block everything else out.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Forever-mango

Kevin, which books on Paphs. would you recommend?

Originally Posted by kmarch

I recommend doing some general study on paphs, perhaps using Phillip Cribb's books ...

He has 2:
The Genus Paphiopedilum
Slipper Orchids of Vietnam

[PhalNewbie89]

I kind of figured you went straight to the paphs part and blocked the rest out. :P I proly do the same with phals sometimes. Although I love my paph(as slow moving as it is) I know a little more about the phals :P

[LouisW]

From a functional standpoint, plants with this red-purple coloring are generally low light plants. The pigment serves to reflect light back up through the leaf therefore increasing the amount of light the plant is able to absorb. This trait is commonly found on forest floor plants like African Violets and Begonias. This also serves a similar purpose when a plant is exposed to overly intense light. Often the leaves will develop a similar pigment on the top side of the leaf in an attempt to reflect some of the un-needed light away. This defense mechanism is often seen in orchids and bromeliads.