North Facing Window's - Orchid Board

Becca · #1 06-19-2007, 11:16 AM

I have read many many times not to put orchids in north facing window's, but I have never seen the reason for it. I have a north, kinda northeast, facing window that seems nice and bright without direct sunlight. Can someone please shed some light on why north facing windows are not recommended? TIA!

PuddleMonk · #2 06-19-2007, 06:35 PM

There's usually not enough strong light for most plants to grow in north windows. That's not always true, however. Your circumstances may certainly prove differently. Do you have a light meter to measure it?

Keep in mind ... even if the plants in the window seem healthy, they often won't bloom without an additional boost of sunlit hours.

Richard

Becca · #3 06-19-2007, 06:44 PM

Richard,
I do not have a light meter, nor do I have a meter for humidity or temps, other then the thermostat for the house. I really need to get these 3, but I have heard good and bad about the affordable ones so I never got around to purchasing them. I found some additional reading after I posted my question. I will look into finding those fun toys I need and measure the light. Is there a book that will recommend the light requirements in a format other then terms such as bright light, medium light, and shade for orchids?

Ross · #4 06-19-2007, 06:55 PM

Becca, North windows at your latitude are problimatic for most plants, let alone orchids. Having said that though there are a few you could try. First would be the so-called "jewell orchids" (a couple of which may grow natively in your area) If you check for orchids tolerating light down to 500 foot-candles or less, then those are your choices. Try Andy's Orchids - Orchids Species - Orchids - Species Specialist - Orchids on a stick and do a search down at the left for "shade" under light. Those are good candidates if you can maintain proper humidity.

Becca · #5 06-19-2007, 06:58 PM

Ross,
Hehe....you don't even want to mention proper humidity to me...lol. I might as well pull all of my hair out and just not grow orchids in that case! Thank you for the recommendations!

Ross · #6 06-19-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

Ross,
Hehe....you don't even want to mention proper humidity to me...lol. I might as well pull all of my hair out and just not grow orchids in that case! Thank you for the recommendations!

I think it was Douglas Adams that said "Don't Panic". I've lived in southern Oregon (Grants Pass) and spent a few days in Boise (which is much nicer, by the way

) and I think I understand low humidity. This is not a condition - just a challenge! I grow lots of hi-humid folks in an orchidarium and I am trying the REALLY high humidity ones. Every day is a challenge and that's what makes this a hobby.

PuddleMonk · #7 06-20-2007, 10:16 AM

Low humidity? Yesterday was the highest percentage we've reached in the past 2 months. 12%

Richard
PS: I loved Boise the few times I've visited. Then again, anything's better than Reno. I really gotta get out of this place.

Tommyr · #8 06-22-2007, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

I have read many many times not to put orchids in north facing window's, but I have never seen the reason for it. I have a north, kinda northeast, facing window that seems nice and bright without direct sunlight. Can someone please shed some light on why north facing windows are not recommended? TIA!

With flowering plants what you think is bright light and what the plant thinks is bright light are 2 different things.
The light from a north window just isn't bright enough, no matter how bright you may think it is. If you must use a north window you can always add supplimental lighting to add the needed light level.

Tom

smartie2000 · #9 06-22-2007, 02:39 PM

I agree, north wondows are not the best. I do have some noid orchids growing on a north window facing without supplimental lighting since I am out of space and they do not bloom as well as the others at this location. However I do have some phal blooms with low flower count right now. Also a cattleya noid (probably a Blc.) that blooms annually, the confused catt blooms and grows in poor light! And only expect blooms during the summer. Just don't expect good displays on a north window, they will be rather crappy and you are better off growing using a shop light and them moving the plants to the window when they are blooming, or using suppliment light. Also you will notice one or more: short spikes, spikes touching the window, reflexed sepals, low flower count, a lot of buds dropping....

This is one noid that is in bloom. A large white, probably the bloom would be larger with more light, though it is still large and I am suprised the sepals are not reflexed (now I wish it wasn't a noid). Sepals tend to reflex under these conditions too. Also I think 8 buds droppped but I am not going to go and count. It is just a neglected plant, my mom didn't even notice buds dropping and I didn't care for it and the retailer gave it for free since it was going in the gargage.

BTW the window is very large so things grow even though they are not doing their best. Size does matter