define window light needs

[early]

I have many phals that are blooming on a round table 4 feet or less from east facing window. And there is also light coming in from a north sliding glass door that has less light as there is a covered screen porch also on that north side.
I am wondering the defination of window sill growing as to how close the phals need to be from the window?

I have a multi color light I use in the day, but its direction when it arrive was for 4 or less house plants. I am not sure it is helping with the growing phals.

[My Green Pets]

I would think that Phals would be fine right in the east window.

[early]

Originally Posted by My Green Pets

I would think that Phals would be fine right in the east window.

Even if 3 1/2 to 4 feet away from east window. I was wondering if I needed additional LED lighting. TX for reply This is my second year of raising orchids. I have two Onc's that are on the same table. I was away for as week and one has leaves that were wrinkled when I came back, but repotted it in LECA and rock wool 75/25% and she seems better. I got then in bloom last year in the spring and they have not rebloomed like most of my Phals.

I also have three yearling vandas, two are doing well, the other has brown, not sure dead? roots, about 5, I am dunking them all in water with 20 20 20 just like the others, and giving lots of air and light. The leaves in the one with the long stalk/stem on the vanda are still healthy, but not growing. I am in NM and wonder if my arid climate is too dry to get vandas to grow and bloom.

[estación seca]

You're farther south than a lot of other OB members, so your light is stronger. Plants can be farther from a window in the south and do as well as those that need to be right next to the window in the north.

Phals flower in low light. If you can just barely see a shadow when you put your arm between the light source and the plant that is generally enough. They would probably be fine near your north window, or they can stay where they are, since they're blooming.

Oncidiums need a little more light than Phals. If you see a more distinct but not sharp shadow that is generally enough. They would probably benefit from being very close to the east window. The north window might not be enough light. They flower from new growths, either as they are developing or just after they finish growing. Pleating means not enough water. When you leave town it is probably fine to stand them in a half inch of water in a dish. That's what I do.

Vandas are somewhat tricky in our climate. If bare root they really do need to be watered every single day, and sometimes more often. If in pots they shouldn't dry out for long. When you go out of town for a few days, and they don't get watered, they are set back. If you search OB for reader Fairorchids and the word Vanda you'll find out how Kim pots Vandas. That might work better for you. If Vandas aren't growing steadily that means not enough water or not enough fertilizer.

[Davey]

Here’s how close I have my large white Phal growing at my east/north facing window. It gets direct sunlight until about 8:30 in the morning.

Its one leaf is upright like that because I lost access to this phal and a lot of my other orchids for several months. We were having hurricane repairs and the construction workers had to block the plants’ room off with one of those temporary plastic walls with a zipper. The room also had to be used as storage. I think some kind of object was forcing it to grow like that. This phal was about 10 feet away from the window during the months I couldn’t get to it.

[early]

Originally Posted by Davey

Its one leaf is upright like that because I lost access to this phal and a lot of my other orchids for several months. We were having hurricane repairs and the construction workers had to block the plants’ room off with one of those temporary plastic walls with a zipper. The room also had to be used as storage

How did your orchids survive...how did they get water.???

I would be really sad to have hurricane damage.

I have been thinking about and wondering how Ray survived the past week when the tropical storm passed by his island.

[Davey]

Originally Posted by early

How did your orchids survive...how did they get water.???

I would be really sad to have hurricane damage.

I have been thinking about and wondering how Ray survived the past week when the tropical storm passed by his island.

A lot of my plants didn’t make it. But it made me more determined to do good with what I had which is what brought me back to this forum. I’m loving it.
Love the phals. Yeah those straight line winds and derechos are bad too!