How to display orchids in bloom?

[MateoinLosAngeles]

I'm pretty sure most people in this forum who grow at home and indoors, have an orchid-filled section or room in their home that best meets their needs.

I've read that the general conditions of light, watering, and RH for orchids in bloom can be more lax and that the orchid can be pretty much placed anywhere for display after blooming without setting it back.

Is there any truth to that? I can see how this could be true for a Phal, but can a Catt or an Onc be placed away from their grow shelves and say, on the dining table, to showcase their beautiful flowers albeit receiving less light?

[Ray]

That is generally true, but some are less forgiving than others, so will fade more quickly.

I speculate that the closer the “growing” and “displaying” area conditions, the longer the flowers will last.

[My Green Pets]

It's nice to have a display in your home. The only way to find out how they handle it is just to try. If you have plants that are blooming under your care, you'll have the awareness to notice how the time outside their growing conditions is affecting them. And if not, you'll learn!

[Roberta]

You'll also see which ones do well and which don't. For instance, I have a C. pecivalliana that has been blooming for about 6 weeks in the house. But if I bring Stenoglottis longifolia inside, the flowers at the end of the spike don't keep opening, it says "I'm done". In general, if the plant has flowered outside, the odds of the flowers lasting indoors tends to improve greatly if you let them pretty open outside and leave them for a day or two before bringing them in. (Even if all the buds aren't open, at least get most of them open before moving them) Especially Catts and Cymbidiums. Oncidiums don't seem to care, buds keep on opening when they come inside.

[dbarron]

And (I relate this from my own experience yesterday), if for instance, your plant gets excessively dry (either heat reduces humidity or light is greater), your whole scape can go overnight.
I would imagine the opposite is true, and lack of light could potentially cause watering intervals to stretch and roots could be damaged by being too wet if you weren't careful.
Anyway, just saying that changing conditions will impact the orchid in less direct ways. Be aware, seeing the leaves lax on my odontonia yesterday morning and the spike withered overnight was a shock to MY system. It recovered nicely overnight with a good drenching (and I think the only thing that changed was an abruptly 72F sunny day that after several weeks of cooler and cloudier weather, surprised me).

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by dbarron

Be aware, seeing the leaves lax on my odontonia yesterday morning and the spike withered overnight was a shock to MY system.

Reading that was a shock to MY system as well. I'm glad your orchid recovered quickly, I have a Vuyl which freaks me out even though it's doing just fine. Miltonia + Odontoglossum hybrids are scary for someone living in CA.

[dbarron]

Yep, I lost one of that six pack of baby Oncs from 2020 and it was a Vuyl, so I know what you're saying
it's a balancing act, enough water or too much water and occasionally you get a (bad) surprise.
Back to the original topic, I think I would probably just move it for a special occasion (like one day/night) because of what I said and the fact that it's likely it's not making food to fuel future growth while on display. I try to always lean in the direction of what's good for the plant vs where I'd LIKE it to be *lol*.

[tmoney]

howdy! in traditional japanese homes there may be a space, i think called tokonoma or something like that, where they will display a bonsai. their trees are pretty much only outdoor growers, and i remember reading years ago that there are unwritten (or perhaps written) rules on how long a tree should be placed there. it’s like a day or 2 if iirc. anyway, why shouldn’t our little guys have something similar, even for the outdoor plants? could probly even leave many orchids for much longer

maybe we have some more knowledgeable bonsai folks who could correct me or add to?