Phals spiking in East window

[JerseyGirlBecky]

I have 10 phals that have not spiked in a couple of years. I put them on my porch in Summer out of direct sun and in a North window in winter. I decided to move them this year to an east window. I have two blooming and three more in spike. I thought they liked low light but I guess not too low. They looked so healthy with new leaves and good color but just would not bloom.
I am hoping for the same results for my catts, who did not bloom last year either. So far nothing, but I am hoping.

[JerseyGirlBecky]

Oh and forgot, the Catts were in a South window. I know they need much more light. Now in the East window?

[Paul Mc]

Yup, increase in light can do wonders, lol... But sometimes that just one factor. For me last year, we didn't have a long enough fall spell to initiate the spikes on most.

Just watch them carefully for a few weeks. Take a day when the sun is shining and feel the leaves periodically. If they are warm, then back them away from the light.

Catts need far more light than Phals though, thus my concern about how much your Phals may be getting if you think it's appropriate for Catts.

[orchidsarefun]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirlBecky

I have 10 phals that have not spiked in a couple of years. I put them on my porch in Summer out of direct sun and in a North window in winter. I decided to move them this year to an east window. I have two blooming and three more in spike. I thought they liked low light but I guess not too low. They looked so healthy with new leaves and good color but just would not bloom.
I am hoping for the same results for my catts, who did not bloom last year either. So far nothing, but I am hoping.

I experimented and put ALL my orchids outside over summer, it was the best thing to have done. All have done much better and spikes/blooms are the reward. And that includes paphs that hadn't bloomed for me for a long time either. EVEN a cymbidium !
All my plants are in SF windows now, you do have to watch for the weather change as around late Feb its starts getting too hot ( good tip from Paul ). I always have to put up shading.

[Paddle_grl]

I was growing all my orchids under lights in a cabinet as I have really no windows that I can use (the house is aligned north/south so no windows other than the bedroom, and we keep the shades closed). This past summer I made a floating shelf for my kitchen window and moved all my phal's to this shelf. It's an east facing window that really doesn't get the best light, and my orchids are blooming better than they ever have. I have two that are budding now and I live in Michigan.