Moving plants around the home

[FranningtonBear]

I have finally taken the plunge and purchased some LED grow lights for some of my higher light orchids. I have set them up in one of my spare rooms and moved a selection of plants that had previously been situated on windowsills around my home. All these plants are healthy (I think) but I would like to see if by using lights I can encourage more blooms. I have chosen plants that are currently not in bloom, including one Den. Harveyanum and one Den Nobile which are in bud and there are a couple of other plants in spike but most are looking a bit boring at the moment.

So, my question. I know there are a few other members who grow under lights, in the home, do you move plants into your living areas when in bloom? At what stages do you bring them out/return them to your growing area? Do you find this disturbs your plants?

I really want to be able to enjoy my collection around the house but I don’t want to kill them!

[reverseboB]

I cant really address the grow light as I have my orchids all over the house. But many of my smaller orchids get moved all the time. I move them to display them and as the seasons change and the light conditions change they get moved to new or different windows. For a while several of my phals were in a rotation between an area with too much light and not enough light. I have run out of window space without building more shelving so plants need to move around to have everyone get enough light. In spring when some go outside there is a great migration as plants can be moved to more favorable spots and the tops of radiators can be reconverted to temporary tables. Probably should purge but that won't happen.

[FranningtonBear]

Purging sounds like a terrible idea! I pointed out to my husband that I now have lots of windowsill space again and will “need” to buy more orchids to fill in the gaps

[Canadienne]

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---------- Post added at 07:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:14 PM ----------

I move mine around the house all the time, they summer outside then in late fall they go down in the basement under full spectrum LED in wintertime if they’re not flowering or spiking at the time. If they spike in the basement they come upstairs once the first blooms open untill they are done flowering. My basement is 2 degrees cooler then my upstairs, never lost any blooms to the difference. I have a lot of light in my house due to large windows, all east,south and west facing which I think helps because the LED’s are 6500 Kelvin ( daylight) too. So I don’t think you’ve got anything to fear?
I do have a lot of windows and patio doors, so lots of natural light in all upstairs rooms.

[LexaCat]

I also move plants around my house constantly. They spend most of their time under grow lights in an upstairs bedroom. As soon as they start to bloom, I move them to the main floor so we can enjoy the flowers throughout the day. When they are done blooming, back upstairs they go.

[MeithKeithOrchidBub]

I move mine around my flat regularly and they have been ok. Be careful of temperatures.

[Johndeaux22]

I grow most of my collection in a grow tent in my basement, and generally bring plants to the main part of the house when they bloom with a minimum of drama. Everything dries a bit faster, but I adjust my watering routine to accommodate that.

[fredfarmer]

I, like most all the others on this thread, bring blooming orchids downstairs to display them, then put them back under the lights after the flowers die off. One cautionary suggestion (which I have made before on the OB) is to reintroduce them gradually to the LEDs upon return. This is especially true of Phalaenopsis which I find will get sunburn at anything over 500 ft-candles upon reintroduction to the LEDs. Cattleya will turn reddish but recover. Phalaenopsis will lose leaves. I haven't had any trouble with Dendrobiums but my experience is limited. So 500 for a week or so, then 800 for another week and 1000 for a third week. etc. I stop at 1000 for Phalaenopsis, but the others can take (and like) more.

I haven't seen others complain about this issue, so maybe it's my LED setup which can crank up to 8000 or more ft. candles. Fortunately they have dimmers on them.