Light question (Phalaenopsis)

[DirtyCoconuts]

"
ps. i may well be overdoing it! which would be good, to me. Next is to back off and see what happens. Or get another phal and see if it does anything more than survive at the lowest end. probably not going to do that!"


this is the best thing you can do...orchids will teach you patience or you will kill them

[tedro]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Just a thought... remember that orchids teach patience because they grow very slowly... while a burned spot can develop fast, most of the things that one does for (or to) an orchid won't give you feedback for a long time... months usually, for blooming more like a year or year-plus. So don't draw any conclusions based on a few weeks. (You may do things and see things happen but not necessarily cause-and-effect.) Do what seems to make sense, then observe.

Indeed, Roberta, great advice!

I have watched (since Sept), afa my leaves, go from dark glossy to paler and some slight yellow. these are not the baby leaves or other lower leaves it seem to turn yellow and come off or can be taken off I guess. The sort of mist prominent leaf (image attached) still looks very similar all the way through. Anyway, what this tells me is I think I was overdoing the light. I’ve backed off.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by tedro

I am curious about your use of the word “continual,” 24x7 is probably not what that refers to?

"Continual" is meant to describe "the same intensity from lights on to lights off", rather than dark-to-max-to-dark as is the case for sunlight.

Here’s my deal/my question-to-self when i read the moth orchid tag that said “indirect” and whatever (can’t remember) else it said that indicated that possibly I could have a beautiful FLOWERING plant in my dark and at times dank apartment.

Phals can tolerate very dark conditions. In nature, they live very low in the forest canopy, so probably never see much light. Without a doubt, the best phals I've ever seen were in a greenhouse so algae-covered that it took several minutes for they eyes to adjust after entering it.

However - it will take some time for the plants to adjust to lower light levels, so they may skip a year of blooming while they adjust.

I may be overdoing it a bit I should probably cut my lamp back to 13 hours instead of 14.

One hour won't make much difference.

I also found this article: MechaTronix - Typical PPFD and DLI values per crop

That might be good data, but light manufacturers are not very good about publishing PPF values, and decent meters are pricey.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by tedro

Are (other than Sun) light sources, like my led GE Daylight bulb, considered "indirect" lighting?

That will be related to: "direct sunlight lighting" and "indirect sunlight lighting".

But if you refer to artificial light, I guess that you could look at it in the same way. If the artificial light source is powerful enough, then it can also burn or cook an orchid.

One method for avoiding scorching issues is to place the plant in a spot where the path of light is not a direct path - or rather, in a spot where light intensity is not high enough to burn parts of the plant.

For artificial lighting - considerations can be distance between artificial light and the plant, and maybe usage of suitable 'diffuser' assemblies.

[tedro]

Originally Posted by Ray

"Continual" is meant to describe "the same intensity from lights on to lights off", rather than dark-to-max-to-dark as is the case for sunlight.

Phals can tolerate very dark conditions. In nature, they live very low in the forest canopy, so probably never see much light. Without a doubt, the best phals I've ever seen were in a greenhouse so algae-covered that it took several minutes for they eyes to adjust after entering it.

However - it will take some time for the plants to adjust to lower light levels, so they may skip a year of blooming while they adjust.
One hour won't make much difference.

That might be good data, but light manufacturers are not very good about publishing PPF values, and decent meters are pricey.

Thanks! an hour less and some distance. — distance is important because the farther away the less interaction/maintenance. let’s moving around either the light or the plant. In a situation like mine will you try to live in the same room the plant lives in. Pretty much. and there is the just right there. Again 2 foot parlor palm and a 3 foot lucky bamboo and an air plant seem to love it. I like it cold at night. ) and that’s something about these newfangled LED type bulbs too, no heat. Another factor to deal with where it might be helpful occasionally, but alas just more maintenance!!!

I will say that this little guy has been spectacular. And this forum is the greatest!!!

---------- Post added at 05:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:01 PM ----------

Originally Posted by SouthPark

That will be related to: "direct sunlight lighting" and "indirect sunlight lighting".

But if you refer to artificial light, I guess that you could look at it in the same way. If the artificial light source is powerful enough, then it can also burn or cook an orchid.

One method for avoiding scorching issues is to place the plant in a spot where the path of light is not a direct path - or rather, in a spot where light intensity is not high enough to burn parts of the plant.

For artificial lighting - considerations can be distance between artificial light and the plant, and maybe usage of suitable 'diffuser' assemblies.

Exactly! Thank you, SouthPark!