Confused about light

[stemper]

I'm brand new (almost) to orchids. I did grow a beautiful dendrobiu, of few years ago which reflowered a couple of times. I now live in a new house (Lot of windows, lot of light) and am trying some orchids. I managed to scorch a lady slipper, a dendrobium seems to be doing well, but the leaves of an unidentified plant are turning yellow. Does this mean too much light? I've been reading the postings here which are very informative but I'm totally confused about light. I always thought that orchids didn't like direct or strong light but now I'm reading that the opposite is true. I tried that with the Paph with not good results. Perhaps it was getting too much direct light?

Any info would be appreciated. Or pointers to a good orchid book or two.

Thanks.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by stemper

I'm brand new (almost) to orchids. I did grow a beautiful dendrobiu, of few years ago which reflowered a couple of times. I now live in a new house (Lot of windows, lot of light) and am trying some orchids. I managed to scorch a lady slipper, a dendrobium seems to be doing well, but the leaves of an unidentified plant are turning yellow. Does this mean too much light? I've been reading the postings here which are very informative but I'm totally confused about light. I always thought that orchids didn't like direct or strong light but now I'm reading that the opposite is true. I tried that with the Paph with not good results. Perhaps it was getting too much direct light?

Any info would be appreciated. Or pointers to a good orchid book or two.

Thanks.

Lots of windows, lots of light may be the answer (or the culprit). Paphs and Phals can withstand lots of light if introduced to it slowly. Having said that, however, lots of light may not be a definitive term. We mean about 2000 foot-candles when we say lots of light for Paphs and Phals. For most Encyclia, Brassias, Cats and Dendrobiums, that would be pretty low light. They take upwards of 3000 foot-candles. So a high quality light meter is your only definitive answer. Yellow leaves can often mean too high light, but can also mean root rot, etc. We need to rule out other causes before we can say light is the culprit.

[stemper]

That's very helpful, thanks. I'm moving things around if they don't look happy. And I will definitely buy a meter. Part of the problem is that I don't know what everything is. I was given six plants, lucky me, but some are unidentified and others have bewildering names. How do I identify, for example, P. Sogo Ray 'Sun x Dtps. Han-Ben's Girl 'RL'? I know that's a cross of two named hybrids but what is the P? or Dtps? Another is Dtps. Leopard Prince M.P. Clueless here. I've been trying to identify but can't find what these probably abbreviations mean.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by stemper

That's very helpful, thanks. I'm moving things around if they don't look happy. And I will definitely buy a meter. Part of the problem is that I don't know what everything is. I was given six plants, lucky me, but some are unidentified and others have bewildering names. How do I identify, for example, P. Sogo Ray 'Sun x Dtps. Han-Ben's Girl 'RL'? I know that's a cross of two named hybrids but what is the P? or Dtps? Another is Dtps. Leopard Prince M.P. Clueless here. I've been trying to identify but can't find what these probably abbreviations mean.

Pictures may help.

[stemper]

Here are some pictures.

The board might put some back on their sides.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Ross]

The first and fourth are a Phalenopsis or a cross of Phal and something else. Don't know on the others. Be sure and get a good meter. Here is what I bought Light Meters, 840006,840020,21,22 I have the 840020. You can program it and it zeros itself every time you turn it on. Very accurate.

[kiki-do]

The P. stands for Phalaenopsis, and sometimes you'll see Phal.
The Dtps stands for Doritaenopsis which is Doritis x Phalaenopsis
The second and last picture looks like Dendrobiums, but not sure which ones.
Hope this helps.

[lily99]

That third one looks like a Phaius or Phaiocalanthe, I think.

[stemper]

Thank you all. Now I can try to track down what I've got. It's kind of tough when the field is so vast if one has no clue. Your suggestions will help.

Thanks.

[Blondie]

By the way, those are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!