Bringing flowering outdoor orchids in

[HiOrcDen]

So I have a large number of orchids outside in shade houses. A few of them have finally started blooming.

I want to bring them inside, for the family to enjoy. I have a space in a western facing window, without any shade.

I know that there is definitely not too much light in this window, as even my lowest light plants are just fine in this window.

Would it be very advantageous to use grow lights to augment the light source, in order to encourage continued flowering for the longest time?

I mean would it be a much better idea, to use the grow lights than to not?

[Roberta]

I routinely bring my blooming orchids inside to enjoy them. They don't get any special treatment. Since they are already blooming they will just keep on doing it. (I have some that stay in bloom longer outside because the house is too warm for them, but bringing them in for a few days or a few weeks does not harm them) So other than making sure that they don't get intense sunlight (which sounds like is not a problem for you) they will be fine. Enjoy!

[HiOrcDen]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I routinely bring my blooming orchids inside to enjoy them. They don't get any special treatment. Since they are already blooming they will just keep on doing it. (I have some that stay in bloom longer outside because the house is too warm for them, but bringing them in for a few days or a few weeks does not harm them) So other than making sure that they don't get intense sunlight (which sounds like is not a problem for you) they will be fine. Enjoy!

Thank you for this! Should I wait until blooming has completed, like all flowers formed, to bring an orchid in?

Or, I see that you stated it's fine if they're in bloom. But maybe should they be like halfway fully bloomed, as in halfway to all flowers formed?

[Roberta]

It depends on the type of orchid. For Catts, I like to get at least the first flower (or two of a group) fully opened, especially if the weather is good. The flowers tend to last longer that way if they can "harden off" before changing their environment. But I get impatient, some are slowwww... For Oncidinae, once they get going they will keep going when you bring them in, a spike can take weeks to fully open. Catasetinae don't care. Pleurothallids I find usually do better if they're left outside - the house tends to be too dry and too warm, which makes the flowers fade faster.

So the short answer is, "It depends". Plants with pseudobulbs tend to be more forgiving, but not always. Sometimes it comes down to what is practical... some times of the year (like Aussie Dendrobium season or C. purpurata season) there are so many blooming all at once that there isn't room for them all in the house. Other times, I take what I can get.