Moving orchids around in search of good light...

[RaN]

I searched but couldn't really find an answer. I am wondering if moving orchids around the house or outside in search of light is harmful to the plant? I do live in Hawai`i but I live in a town that is 2700 feet from sea level, avg temps are in the low 70s, low 50s in the winter, my area is aptly named the "wetside" due to avg rainfall estimated upwards of 70-80". I started collecting orchids when I lived in Kona where weather was optimum and my collection was prolific. However I moved to Waimea 2 years ago and since lost most of my collection (due to weather and my own negligence). They were kept outside in a protected area, but didn't receive the best light and were often subject to wind and rain. I moved my survivors indoors to a second floor east facing window where a sedirea japonica has bloomed twice, stenocoryne (bifrenia) aureofulva has bloomed twice and another sedirea japonica on the brink of death has recovered well in s/h. However my sophronitis cernua which was once weed like has really slowed down and stopped blooming. I lost one neofinetia falcata and another s. cernua in the same window as well.
My issues are not only temperature fluctuation, really high humidity (mildew and mold is a problem for alot of the homes in my area due to constant rain), and low light due to cloud cover and rain.
So recently I have been moving the plants to find light. I move them from the east facing window to a southern window and once and awhile outside to a brighter shaded protected area. Is the frequent movement bad?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've not found Neofinetia falcata nor Sedirea japonica to be intolerant of wide ranges of temperature. Neither are these two species intolerant of the temperatures you mentioned. In fact, those are perfect temperatures for the spring, fall, and winter, only summer would have to be made warmer for them so they can bloom.

I do know that they don't like to be watered a lot when the humidity is already high, which is probably one of the bigger issues than the temperatures would be.

The other big issue is light. If lighting is an issue, have you considered growing indoors and growing them under lights? I would imagine it would be a lot easier on you and the plants than moving them around a lot. You can control the watering, the environmental factors, and the lighting much better than if you left it up to the seemingly volatile climatic nature of the region where you live.

To answer your question directly, yes, moving the orchids can stress them out a lot. They are not designed to be moved around every which way. You may not feel it, but the orchids can sense the differences between one area and another area. Your house has several micro-environments, these micro-environments are slightly different from one another.

[RaN]

Thank you for the reply Philip! I figured you might say that about moving the plants around. Unfortunately lights are now really an option at the moment.
After thinking about I think I will leave the 2 sedirea japonica and the stenocoryne aureofulva where they are since they did bloom where they were. I have a new neofineita falcata that I think I will leave with them as well.
As for the sophronitis cernua do you think I would be able to put it back outside in a semi protected area that gets alot of late afternoon sun (when it's out)? After reading a bunch and looking at my old pictures of the plant, it has lost that purplish coloring it once had from the good sun it once enjoyed.

[katrina]

If you're planning on staying in your current location...you might want to start collecting orchids that would do really well in your growing conditions. Especially if you can't do lights right now...the best thing would be to find plants that will love all that rain and those cooler temps.

If I lived there I would definitely be looking at many of the Masdevallia species because so many of them would absolutely love the conditions you described. And, w/all that rain and humidity I would most likely mount a lot of my orchids.

[RaN]

Katrina thank you for the reply and you are absolutely right in regards to choosing plants that can handle my conditions. I actually made a couple of poor choices a few weeks ago at the most recent orchid event on island... So from now on I think I will focus on trying to provide for the remaining plants I have before acquiring anything else.
I really like mounted orchids as well. My Stenocoryne Aureofulva is mounted on a log and my Sophronitis Cernua is mounted to hapu`u (local tree fern). I once owned a Masdevallia Bicolor and a Dracula Lotax I may go that route again in the future.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by RaN

Katrina thank you for the reply and you are absolutely right in regards to choosing plants that can handle my conditions. I actually made a couple of poor choices a few weeks ago at the most recent orchid event on island...

Impulse buying...I'm guilty of that one! I used to be worse but w/less and less space available for new acquisitions...I've had to do my best to curb it. Still...it happens more than I like to admit.

There are soooooo many masdevallia species/hybrids that I would LOVE to grow but I don't have the best conditions for the majority of them and even though I've tried and tried...most just don't look or bloom well for me.

W/your described conditions...OH MY!...I'd be growing some amazing masdies. Oh, and the dracula! WOW! W/your humidity...they would be right at home. [just a little bit jealous right now]

Have fun w/your new space and the learning part of it. IMO, it really is a big part of the fun in this hobby.

[lauraeli]

Im still growing just phals. I live in wisconsin and have only eastern and northern exposures. My one dendro is surviving but I did manage to rot the new growths because water got in the crown. Yay. You would think a plant that grows upright in nature can take a little rain.