Indoor windowsill growing - seeking orchid recommendations

[Orchidaceae]

Hi guys,

It's been a while since I last posted! I have moved to a new place in San Diego (Southern California) where I have a west-facing windowsill. It gets a lot of direct sun and my cacti thrives in this blazing hot windowsill. My cymb gets the same sun (but i grow it outdoors), and even it gets sunburnt. However, I'm more keen to change this windowsill into an orchid haven with the introduction of some shade cloth. I was wondering if I could get some recommendations on how to go about doing that, and what sort of orchids would be best grown indoors under shade netting?

The sill is about 1.5'X3.5'. There are blinds behind the sill so that I can create a micro-environment by using humidity trays. Should I use 50% shade cloth? I can probably only grow smaller plants given that small space. I have phals grown in sphag in teak containers at work, which are thriving, so I'm looking at other species. Perhaps, zygopetalums, miltonia, dendrobium, cattleya or the like. I have experience in growing phal-like dendrobiums, but not the nobile kind. (I've also grown oncidiums, ascocentrums, vandas, minicats, but in tropical asia and not in San Diego). In addition, I'm also wondering about stagnant airflow.

Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

[tucker85]

I have no experience with window-sill growing but I don't think you need 50% shade. I would think that some inexpensive sheer curtains would be fine. If you want to stay with low light orchids, I would say paphs and phals.. Paph. Pinocchio isn't the prettiest paph in the world but it's in bloom more often than not. Some of the new phal crosses rebloom on old flower spikes and put on quite a show. Norman's orchids in LA is a good place to find quality phals. Mini-catts have become popular because they bloom more than once a year and require less light and space. One of the best mini-catt breeders in the country is Fred Clarke who has a nursery just north of San Diego in Vista, Ca. called Sunset Valley Orchds. It might be a nice weekend outing to visit his place.

Sunset Valley Orchids - Grower and hybridizer of quality orchids, Vista CA

[Orchid126]

I found that dendrobiums love western light here in zone 6, NJ.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Try Pleurothallids like Masdevallias, Draculas, Pleurothallis, etc.

Try orchids in Catasetinae.

If you want some challenge, try Zygopetalinae. Zygopetalums are easy, the other genera allied to it are not quite so.

Trichopilia may be an Onc relative you haven't grown before and may want to see if you like.

Dwarf species of Vandas would be cool too.

[WhiteRabbit]

I grow Dens (Den-Phals, Latouria, Calcarifera), Oncidium and Onc alliance intergenerics, Catt alliance intergeneric (Laeliocatanthe), Neostylis, Neofinetia, strap leaf Paph, somewhat mottled leaf Paph, Phal pulchra (and now a Sedirea, tho that's a recent acquisition - have to see how it does there) in west facing windows. The lower light ones get the half of the window with the screen (diffuses light slightly). No sheer curtains. These are regular windows, as opposed to floor to ceiling. Plants sit very close to the windows, as my sills are very narrow (only a few inches).

Sometimes my outside orchids receiving afternoon sun burn if the temps suddenly spike (they don't get direct sun all afternoon, but a few hours at least), but the ones in the west facing windows have only burned if it's extremely hot, and foliage is touching the window. They just don't get as hot, nor in the sun as long as the outside ones. (Well two exceptions to that - my Laeliocatanthe burns easily and did burn some during a heat spike a couple of weeks ago even tho it has been in that window during similar temps before - this was just a big increase suddenly, and a smaller den-phal, the older canes closest to the window cooked tho I suspect the plant was also too dry during the heat - the other den-phal in the same window was fine.
Like I said, I usually only get burn in afternoon sun if it's extremely hot, or a sudden big spike in temps. My west windows do have a small roof overhang that shades from mid-day sun, and then get shaded late afternoon (early evening in summer) by some bushes. But in summer they do get hit with sun for a few hours.

Of course, if a plant is used to lower light, and is suddenly put into much stronger light, they will burn, especially in hot afternoon sun. If I want to move my plants around to get them more light, I wait for a period of overcast weather. (sheer curtains or blinds that can be adjusted would also work)

Your obviously further south than I am, so sun will be be somewhat stronger - I don't know how much that will effect the plants

I honestly don't do anything to try to increase humidity, or move air. In summer, windows are open a lot, but even if not, and in winter, don't have issues with stagnant air. Daytime humidity in summer is quite low here, but can be damp in winter. Well, I do need to be careful in winter about NOT getting water into small new growths and Phal and Paph crowns Have gotten some rot that way in winter.

[Bud]

I was just in Escondido two weeks ago. It was a pleasant weather and the sun was shinning but not the burning kind...you can try to hang some of the orchids outside(hooks and some old coat racks will help) you can go to home depot and find a three tiered wooden plant stands...
I have a large bay window in Manhattan and use the props I just mentioned indoors and I have a large fire escape that I fill the sides with hanging vandas and just make sure that the passageway is clear in case the fire department comes to inspect my building....but as much as possible since it is warm; I let my plants outdoors...and bring them all indoors one month before the frost comes

* look at my list and maybe you can find some plants that are available to you. There are several orchid farms in your area.

[Leafmite]

Angraecum didieri would do well and is small, night-fragrant, very easy. It can take the heat. Vanda coerulescens is a mini orchid that won't be bothered by the heat (can take frost to 100'F). Good luck!

[Orchidaceae]

Hi guys,

Thanks so much for the recommendations!

I put up some shade netting, and went to Sunset Valley Orchids to pick up some mini/compact catts. They're so adorable and so small, yet very floriferous. Here are pics of my 5 starter plants. I got these, from left to right:

Pot Rubescence SVO AM/AOS x Slc Pink Doll 'Garnet Sea' AM/AOS
Pot Rubescence SVO AM/AOS x Sc Orpetii 'Kathleen' AM/AOS
L. alaorii v. delicata 'SVOII' x Sl Minipet 'SVO (2nd pic attached)
Blc Waianiae Leopard 'Ching Hua' HCC/AOS x Slc Jungle Gem 'Very Nice'
Pot Rubescence SVO AM/AOS x Sc. Beaufort 'Hartford's Elnwood' AM/AOS

I can't wait for them to bloom! Their parentages are really impressive. Question: So I know Fred from SVO uses quality parents for their hybridization, and I was wondering how should I decide whether to (eventually) send them for judging? Also, I was wondering if buyers are allowed to send newly purchased specimens for judging immediately? (I wouldn't think so, but I am just curious)

I may move my phals into this area too, now that there's shade netting in place. There's plenty of space for many more, and i think I will mount some eventually too.

Pleurothallids are really interesting, but I'm not sure if I can get humidity high enough though. I added a humidity tray under the catts, and opened the windows a wee bit to allow airflow and day/night temp differences. I was also looking at sequential-blooming paphs, but I think it might just take up too much space and are too tall. Pity though, I like them very much! The paphiopedilum philippinense hybrids are so gorgeous.

[tucker85]

That's a great growing area you have. It looks like a mini-greenhouse. I'm glad you had a good experience at Fred Clarkes place. Generally you aren't supposed to take new purchases in for judging. They want plants that you have grown for a while and bloomed yourself. Good luck with your new purchases.

[magicatt]

I see plenty of room for more orchids.....It won't be long now....LoL