and here is another photo

I vote for the plant on the left.

What color is the flower on the plant on the right? Purple flowered Phals tend to show purple in their leaves. So it might not be the light but the color of the flower.

Jane

I bet the plant on the left is white and the plant on the right is purple.

Jane

These plants started about the same color and came from the same pot when bought. I wrote about them here previously: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/orchids/msg080116331106.html.

I would love for flowers to be of different colors (less interesting if they are the same) but I've never seen them, so no idea. Probably the same though because of the same pot thing.

I was also surprised by just how much difference the light makes.

You must post the picture of the flowers when they bloom.

The lighting is interesting. I would have thought the plant on left was getting more light because it is a lighter green. They both look very healthy and I'm sure you'll get beautiful blooms. Maybe this year!

Jane

I just started giving the light green Phal more light and the darker green/purple one less. It looks like what they need, but you guys feel free to chime in if you have other ideas.

>> I'm sure you'll get beautiful blooms. Maybe this year!

Is there a rough rule of thumb for how many leaves a Phal needs before it'll bloom? Such rule supposedly exists for Clivias and maybe some other plants, where the number of leaves is a proxy for plant maturity or health or vitality or whatever. My Phals have just 2 and 3 leaves with the next one coming out for both. And they are regrowing roots from almost nothing 7 weeks ago, too.

First: I think you did a great job of bringing those 2 back.

Second: No, I don't think there is a general rule of thumb as far as # of leaves before flowering.

I have some phals with only 3-5 leaves that flower reliably year after year.. Have others with 5+ that have yet to mature to the point of flowering. I have phals with 12+ leaves and some with only 2 or 3 and pretty much everywhere in between. Some bloom reliably year after year, some just aren't quite ready or are struggling for whatever reason and can't produce a decent spike.

I think flowering has more to do with maturity of phal and providing good conditions. Most hybrids definitely need an @ 2 week period with 15 degree night-time temp drops in fall to induce spikes.

Good luck,

Bob