New Vanda & Cattleya need help!

[TinTinGirl]

Hi all,

I'm new here and pretty new to orchid growing so I’m hoping you all could help me. I kept a few phals in the past, but couldn't get them to rebloom, mostly due to the lack of light and too much water. Later I had to let them go.

Two weekends ago I found my local farmers market carries a few Vandas, totally unexpected. I was so excited and couldn't resist taking one home. The tag says V. Pure's Wax "Violet Blue". I water and hang it under my covered porch before I leave for work and move it inside at night as the seller suggested (except I mist it and then hang it inside the bathroom, hoping doing this would help with the humidity).

Then last weekend I stopped at the same orchid shop again and this time I saw a few Catts and just love how lovely they smell. The seller said it's easier than the Vanda so again one went home with me The name on the tag is BLC Goldenzelle Lemon Chiffon. The seller said keep it inside and water once a week. Currently, I put it on the window sill (north-facing).

Since I’ve failed in the past, I want to try my best to do it right this time. I started reading and found this site. I saw the posts about keeping vanda in a vase and I want to try this method since it is getting cold outside and I will need to keep my vanda inside full time. I think my main problem is lighting as my only south-facing window is under the cover (as you can see from the pics, hope the links work ).

DSC09231 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
DSC09237 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
DSC09242 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Originally, I wanted to put a shelf by this window and put both of them there but I read that vandas need a lot of light so I’m afraid that my vanda wouldn’t get enough light. If I add some supplement lighting here, it wouldn’t look very good from the outside (this is the front of the house). Another option I’m thinking is to put the shelf by another wall (no windows) but I need to find a good lighting solution that will provide enough light for both orchids and also make the whole set-up presentable, after all it is our living room

So, my questions are…

1. Would the vanda get enough light if I put the shelf by the window? To be able to close the drapes, the shelf needs to be another 6” in. More distance = weaker light.

2. If I go with the 2nd option, I need lighting suggestions. I saw posts about growing light (105-watt CFLs?). Do they require special housing/socket? Can I use them with some regular desk/floor lamp? And how many bulbs do I need? I don’t like the look of T5 in the living room. Ideally, I would like to get something that is energy efficient, are there any other choices out there?

3. I would love to keep my new collection in the same place, can one of those options accommodate both the vanda and the catt?

4. I think I should still put my vanda outside in the summer, I’m also wondering how low the temp it can handle? This week it has been in the 50s, is this too low?

5. I would like to get another catt to put in my office at work, would it be happy under a desk lamp (I believe it has 13W tube CFL) and the usual office ceiling CFLs? Or I need to change my desk lamp?

6. I saw somewhere about putting a stick to check the moisture in the pot (for the catt), how do I know when to water it? Currently I just let the water run through it for a few mins (no dunking), is this enough? Is once a week enough?

Sorry for such a long post and so many questions. I just really wanted to do it right this time

Thank you all in advance!