Too much light for Laelias and C. aclandiae?

[vmax3000]

I have this little group of Laelias (species, mostly, and one hybrid), a C. aclandiae and some C. aclandiae hybrids sitting in a SW facing window. The window is double glazed and the glass is frosted, well, puckered really, as it's a large bay window over the tub in my bathroom. I know these plants require a lot of light, but this may be beyond the pail. I turn a fan on during the day, which keeps their leaves cool to the touch. I have posted some pictures. I would love to get some input on lighting. Thanks, all.

[Anisa]

They are fine if leaves feel cool to touch. In fact all pf them except for the first one in your pictures look pretty happy and well tanned I am not sure about discoloration in your first picture. Did the black spot changed texture of the leaf? (Dry leathery feel or feels like the spots are raised?)

[vmax3000]

Despite the picture, it's not a black coloration. It's more of a dark purple...digital cameras can be rather deceitful. I think it's an accumulation of anthocyanin. And, no, the leaves feel like all of the other leaves. These were just developing when I placed the plant in this window.

[RobS]

Athocyaan is a protection of the plant against high light, but is also shown under low temperature. I'm a bit worried by the first plant to but the rest look just fine. Some of them need these light quanitities to flower.

[CTB]

Can you moe them back a bit from the window, maybe the glass is magnifying the light. Looks like sunburn to me.

[tucker85]

I think they look pretty good. Sometimes it takes a little while for a plant to adjust to higher light. One South Florida grower told me that he keeps some of his cattleyas outside in full sun. He told me that the plants look terrible but they bloom like crazy. Good luck.

[vmax3000]

The first plant is C. aclandiae. I understand this species needs more light than other Cattleya species. Maybe I am pushing the light level a bit? This plant has a myriad of new root tips coming out, assuming that's a signal of plant health, I haven't moved it. Unfortunately, I can't move them any further back from the window. They'll end up in the tub at that point...too little light, too much water

[trdyl]

Hi Vanessa! Do you have a light meter available?

[ronaldhanko]

I don't see any problem with these - the coloration is normal in high light, but these are all high light species and should look like this.

[vmax3000]

No light meter. I tried to use my digital camera, but couldn't find any information about the light fluence at the specific f/stop I used. First Ray's orchids has a page with some of that info, so I "iterated" based on the data his table provided and my camera's settings. I seem to recall the reading was on the high end, but didn't seem to be out of range for the plants. The deep plum-purple coloration on their leaves concerned me, so I thought I would check in with my OB "peeps"!