Paph, dark colored on the base/bottom where it meats the soil
 

Hi everyone :)

I doubt this is anything bad, but I am new to these orchids and just want to make sure ;)
http://i961.photobucket.com/albums/a...a/DSC02620.jpg

This orchid came from Meijer, but surprisingly there isn't anything wrong with it that I know of. The roots looked fine.

That purplish spotting is just normal pigment. Common in this type of orchid. If it were black or brown it could mean rot or death of an old leaf etc. but this looks normal.

Thanks :D

I have never seen one of these in person until I got this one, so I just wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong :)

This is a very colorful plant!

Many including Spicerianum and spotted/dark colored complex paphs as well as many vini colored maudiae will normally show this kind of pigmentation on that location. Natural. no more worries! :)

Rule of thumb is that the more color you see at the leaf base, the more color you will see in the flower. Doesn't always work, but it is a pretty good indicator.

Thanks everyone :)

I will try and remember that rule of thumb, if I ever see more I am interested in I can see what one has more coloration on the base :)