Variegated Phalaenopsis aphrodite

Hey, the 29th of February comes only once every four years, and to mark the occasion, I went to the Annual Show of the Philippine Orchid Society today to look at this year's crop of winners.

Almost swallowed up by the many blooms of orchids in the booth of Purificacion Orchids were two awarded Phalaenopsis aphrodite plants, each bearing a spike with eight white flowers measuring 6cm in width, which was typical for the species.

However, the plants didn't win a blue ribbon for the flowers. The award was for the variegation in their leaves, with a yellow band encircling the edge of the leaves. The leaves reminded me of a dwarf variegated Sansevieria.

This is the first time I've seen a variegated Phalaenopsis, although I have come across pictures of variegated Phalaenopsis in the Internet. Imagine if this desirable trait for variegation could be transmitted to other orchids. In this way, even if an orchid plant is not blooming, it is still beautiful to look at because of its variegated leaves.

Is this trait a spontaneous mutation and can the trait be inherited? Or perhaps this variegation is due to a virus infection. I hope more variegated (virus-free) plants can be produced in the future.

There are moments in one's life when one's breath is taken away by an event, an emotion, or a sensation. The sight of these variegated Phalaenopsis was one such moment for me. (Remember that song from the Tom Cruise movie (Top Gun) that goes "Take my breath away..."?)