shade for phals

[Lagoon]

LOL!!!!

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by justatypn

Beer...there's your sign

That name passed me by! Where on earth
do they come up with these names?

[Shadow]

Originally Posted by daemondamian

That name passed me by! Where on earth
do they come up with these names?

from the local pub

[justatypn]

Originally Posted by Shadow

from the local pub

[Shadow]

Originally Posted by justatypn

What? It's not me who named that orchid.

[Don Perusse]

Good point Ray. I agree with you on what your latitude is, has a significant bearing on the amount of shade you need or require. I live in SW Ga. and during the heat of the summer I require an additional shade cloth to the one I usually leave on year around.

[Orchidaholic]

I just recently got into the phals(Nov 2006). I was told once that phals with light intensities bloom diffrently. More light =smaller/ more vibrant flowers... Less light = Larger/ duller colored flowers. I am Curious of what the experts have to say about this. I have doubles of a few phals for personal experimentation( Phal. Baladan's Kelidoscope 'Golden Treasure' AM/AOS & DTPS. Taida Salu). I don't have a light meter yet but one of each is inside in an easts window behind other plants( Both an emerald green) And the others on my front porch with full sun shaded only with a white sheer curtan I clipped onto the gutters(both a rich red/purple similar to the encyclias and Catts nearby). All seem to be well and one of the Kelidoscopes outside is still in bloom and doing great in the sun(not initiated to bloom by me)...

[Lagoon]

I personally have not found that light makes the difference in size of the flowers.
Here's what I've found ....

Low light - is less flowers
Higher light - is more flowers.

[Lindafvb]

A few months ago I bought a light meter. I was very surprised to find a difference in the readings when the plant was moved a few inches! I have found this to be a wise investment when growing inside under lights and finding the "right" spot in the window.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

I personally have not found that light makes the difference in size of the flowers.
Here's what I've found ....

Low light - is less flowers
Higher light - is more flowers.

I agree. In my experience the only time I have had flowers smaller than typical for the species/cross is on first bloom. After they get established and a couple blooms under their belt, they start putting out normal sized blossoms (as long as cultural requirements are being met.) But since mine all get lots of light (1500-2000 FC) then they seem to put forth long spikes and lots of blooms.