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[SnowFalcon]

Hello

This is my sisters fault I'm even considering this. She has three orchids in her home that are doing well. She has two that have sprouted a new spike with buds on it. One was half dead when she bought it and now it's doing well under her care. She's got me thinking I may have a chance with a moth orchid in my home.

I have plants in my apartment that are doing well and it seems to be hit and miss with certain species. I have a snake plant that is over a year old and it sprouted a seedling and is bigger this year. I have a hibiscus that is sprouting new leaves at the top. And this other plant I bought at walmart and I don't know the name of it. It's twice it's height now then when I bought it a year and a half ago.

I don't get a lot of sun in my apartment, it may not be possible to even do this. I do get indirect light, the sunlight bounces off the balcony glass at the apartment beside me and I do have some amount of sunlight entering my balcony doors and my bedroom window.

I'm wondering if it's true about the moth orchid? Would this be a more suitable orchid to go with in my apartment?

[bellini girl]

Lots of our members grow under varying conditions in apartments, condos and have great success. Myself I live in a town house and am mostly a window sill grower. Having a lot of sun in your space need not be a problem. I also grow under lights, with good success. Have a look under the "growing under lights forum" Great ideas. Also look at member displays.

[SnowFalcon]

Having a lot of sun in your space need not be a problem...

Having a lot or not having a lot of sun? I guess what I'm saying is I don't get a lot of sun in my apartment, I get some but not a whole lot.

But sounds like I should still have success. I went to Walmart and they look like Moth orchids there but the roots didn't look well. There was a couple of green ones but most looked rotten

[Optimist]

I dont see why not. If you need more light, you canput a grow light ina lamp.

[My Green Pets]

I think between the fact that you are really thinking about this before you get into it combined with having a sister who's succeeding at it, you're an excellent candidate for orchid grower.

If you reeeeeeaally want to be sure of things before purchasing an orchid, get an inexpensive light meter (mine was less than $20 on Amazon) and measure your light levels. I have tons of natural light in the summer but very little in winter. Even so, my Phals are spiking, they just won't have more than 4-5 blooms (instead of the 20-something they had when I bought them).

If you have more light in the summer, you might consider a deciduous orchid that wouldn't mind the months of darkness like a catasetum or dendrobium nobile (as far as I know)

Good luck on your research!

[WhiteRabbit]

There are many orchids that can do well on windowsills, or near windows. Which direction the windows face, whether they are shaded and how much, are factors as yo what type of orchid may do well.

[james mickelso]

Mmmwwwwaahhahahahaha!!!! Another addic....er....I mean...another orchid lover to be. Get a couple orchids (those moth orchids are called phals) and stay here with us addi...er....orchid lovers. We'll help you succeed. Nothing like getting a nice phal and helping it flower. They can last 6 months in bloom. And it is easy too. Welcome to the Orchid Board.

[SnowFalcon]

I'm facing the North north west in my apartment, it's a miracle I have found some plants willing to grow in my apartment in the first place.

My apartment is more shaded in the summer due to the trees sitting between the two properties.

partially shaded in the summer.

There are two spots that gets decent sun, my bedroom window and I'm thinking my african violets are more suited for that area and the balcony door is where I noticed the sun lighting up the floor but not as brightly as the bedroom. The sunlight is redirected off the balcony glass next door.

I suppose I could buy a growing light for a lamp. Another question I have is how far away should the orchid should be from the growing lamp and what would be considered too close?

My sister told me earlier today her dancing lady orchid is showing purple in the buds. She's getting excited. I believe this is the one she rescued from being half dead.

I am thinking about going to walmart and rescuing a purple one. I love the purple ones. I always wanted an orchid. Just was too timid to try. I used to do a lot gardening when I was growing up. I used to plant Gladys in the fall and they would come up in the spring. How I miss those times I did so well with a garden in my teens. I took horticulture all the way through high school. Not sure when my sister inquired the green thumb, she didn't used to be good with plants, now she has three plants all from the same plant. It's remarkable in how far she's come now.

[Polarizeme]

Phals don't like direct sun, there are many orchids that don't like direct sunlight. They burn...
A Phal would do well with some bright indirect light. If you feel like they aren't getting enough light, there are plenty of good suggestions in the subforum "growing under lights"
Good luck!

[SnowFalcon]

Sounds like I have a good chance of keeping orchids. Like I said it's a miracle I found some plants tolerant to my living conditions. I tried tomatoes and it was a complete bust Not enough sunlight. Maybe I should ask my landlord if they mind me attempting to grow tomatoes on the side of the building where the sunlight hits the most. For the most part, it's really shaded.

I can't get the african violets to rebloom and the require medium light. That may give you a more better idea with what I'm dealing with...