Light and size/shape of leaves

[Becca]

That's a great point Ross and Ray. I should have clarified that I wasn't talking about the over all size of a plant being affected by light, I understand some plants will be small and some will be big....I just meant size and width as to what the normal size is for a particular orchid, such as the Paph. Vanda M Pearman I mentioned. I didn't mean that if I gave it more light, would it grow to be the size of a Paph lowii. I guess I should have clarified more. Did I make more sense this time?

[Brooke]

It was not my intent to imply you can take a small leaved plant and make the leaves huge by the substraction of light. Each plant is only capable of what the genetics will allow.

My intent was to say you can make the leaves bigger or smaller by light differential, within limits of the genetics. Sorry if anyone is confused by the above post.

I currently have four flasks and two compots growing in various size pots (phals). Within each of these, there are different leaf sizes, leaf colors, growth rates. All brothers and sisters, but each slightly different.

I was suggesting if you want bigger leaves, longer spikes, more intense bloom colors, etc. take the fc's down to 800-1000 fc's.

Brooke

[Becca]

Brooke I understood what you were saying, I was more aiming my response to Ray and Ross! I love all of the info everyone has given, it all makes a lot of sense! Thanks!

[Ray]

It's just SO hard to generalize and be correct!

I have some Maudiae-type paphs that were grown in traditional media in the shady part of my GH. They grew nicely and bloomed well.

Post blooming, I repotted some into S/H, and I know (due to drying of more traditional media, which stops the feeding process) that they have gotten more nutrition, but more light, too, as I moved them along side of catts, and I use no shade. They are MUCH larger than those repotted into bark-based medium. I attribute it to nutrition, not light.