Orchids and lighting....

[Mangomama]

Hi!
I finally broke down and bought my very first orchid....
What I am wondering is, when an orchid is flowering, is it necessary to leave it in the window? I mean, I can't enjoy it as much from any of my windows, and I'd like to leave it on the kitchen table while it is flowering. Is this okay? I am thinking this might be a problem, since orchids flower for so long. By the way it it s a phalaenopsis.
Thanks!

[Erce]

yes you can have it at your table when flowering - phal are shadow-plants - they do not need high light - just enjoy the flowers and put it in a window when you wait on more flower - do not take of the stem, it can reflower for ages! and welcome to the board - you will find lots of lots of info here!

[Mangomama]

So it's okay while buds are still opening too?
Thanks,
Grace

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If your kitchen table is next to an open window where the plant can receive some diffuse indirect light, it's fine.

If there is no light whatsoever, it's not so cool for the orchid even if it's cool for you.

Prolonged periods of insufficient light will inhibit the plant from putting out new "spikes" in the long run.

It may still continue to re-bloom and what not, but it's using up stored energy to do it. Eventually the plant produces blooms that get subsequently smaller and smaller with a reduced amount of flowers per raceme until it stops putting out an inflorescence altogether.

If it is continued to be left in an area that's doesn't allow for sufficient photosynthesis to occur, the plant eventually starves and dies.

See...not so cool for the plant.

But otherwise, yeah Phalaenopsis are shade plants, just provide "bright shade".

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I found a video of a Phalaenopsis growing in the wild that somebody took.

Notice, they're growing on trees in a swamp forest. You can hear the person taking the video moving in the water while in the swamp. You can also see the water from the swamp.

Video: Phalaenopsis in situ on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Here's a pic:

Phal habitat on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This is a wider shot with the Phal on a tree in the swamp and the plants in the background.

Sarawak is in the Malaysia/Indonesia area.

Photographing phals in situ on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Another Phal.

Small phals close to water on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Wow! I never knew so many people are starting to put up so many pics of Phals in the wild! Nice!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

This pic is really cool. It explains why Phals can do so well in water culture.

This is a pic I found on Flickr that someone took of a Phal's roots touching the water from the swamp.

Roots trailing down and touching the water on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

This pic shows perfectly how bright it should be for a Phal:

Photographing phals in situ on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Thank the people who took the pics!

[wick]

Great pics