East or West Window?

[Erica0227]

Okay soooo, the windows in question here include a east facing window in the bathroom and a west facing window in the dining room. Both windows have light blocked by another building. Which one would receive more light? Should I try to grow any plants there? Orchids? Any other houseplants? I mean the new leaves of the pothos propagations are retaining their variagations if that means anything.

[Dimples]

If your area has frequent morning clouds or fog with clear afternoons, then the west facing window will have more useable light. If your mornings are reliably clear, east facing windows are less likely to scorch your plants accidentally.

[Erica0227]

East it is then! Thank you!

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by Erica0227

East it is then! Thank you!

Mine are in several east facing windows, but I also have an overhead grow light right there in the window.

If leaves grow, but you get no flowers after the plant is mature enough, then your light is too low. So if you bought a plant "in flower" meaning it was mature enough to have flowers, then the next year, you have no flowers, the first thing to look at is the light level.

Also: there are something like thousands of orchids in cultivation, they all take different light levels, so you may find the perfect light level for one type (example Phals), but not another (Example Phrags). Within these groups also, different species take different light levels: Paph. Bellelatum takes lower light than Paph. Rothschildianum. On the other hand sometimes all species within a family takes the same light.

The best thing to do is to look at each type/family you have as having separate needs. A dendrobium may suffer if expected to bloom in Phalenopsis light. When you get really serious, having a light meter is a good idea.

[Erica0227]

Yes, I'll keep an eye on that. All comes to worst, I can just bring them outside and take them in while they're blooming. I'm trying very hard to stick to phals and oncidiums right now although I just acquired a new Catt...