What does "windowsill orchid" mean?

[astrid]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

To my mind a windowsill orchid is one that will do well at typical household humidity levels. A windowsill orchid suitable for a south facing window would be different from one suitable for a north facing window, so preferred light levels are not an important factor in whether or not a certain orchid is a windowsill candidate or not. Light levels come into the equation when deciding which windowsill to grow it on.

Well in my situation, I have two options: south or south!!

So I guess it is too much light for winter maybe. I don't know, though. I have regular lined paper taped up to shade the plants a bit.

[Subrosa]

Your windows have the right amount of light coming through. You picked the wrong orchids to put there.

[lotis146]

This is a good question as I have seen this all over, the windowsill term that is. I think I'd have to agree with Subrosa that it has more to do with the indoor environment then strictly light levels. Not only does lighting vary per location but clearly per season as well. I have a very happy Paph in my South facing window alongside a multi-floral Paph, a Zygo or two, couple Catts, Miltonia, Tolumnias, Promenaea that are all at the least "happy enough". Come late spring and summer most of them would HAVE to be moved even with the leaves overhead (if it weren't for my already planning to move them to the back porch again).

Astrid I also agree with Subrosa in that it's not your window that's the problem, it's some of the Orchids you're picking! You could also (maybe?) move some away from the window so they get the indirect light instead of getting direct light...?

Another possibility is window film. They sell it in some hardware and big box stores and it's often used for privacy. They're also decorative options. Might work for you. I've never used it period but it's what just came to my mind.

[sweetjblue]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Your windows have the right amount of light coming through. You picked the wrong orchids to put there.

Or.... you just put your plant too close to the window. Glass can act like a magnifying glass.

Is this a new plant? If so, was it acclimated before you put it in the window?

I have alot of phals all grown indoors during the winter in south facing windows which don't get any shading during the day. The only time I've ever gotten sunburn on a leaf like yours does is during the late spring/early summer when the sun becomes brighter and hotter and before the trees leaf out.

Just pull your plants back, they'll still get plenty of light.

Quick shot at 2 o'clock. Most of these plants have spikes.

[astrid]

Originally Posted by lotis146

This is a good question as I have seen this all over, the windowsill term that is. I think I'd have to agree with Subrosa that it has more to do with the indoor environment then strictly light levels. Not only does lighting vary per location but clearly per season as well. I have a very happy Paph in my South facing window alongside a multi-floral Paph, a Zygo or two, couple Catts, Miltonia, Tolumnias, Promenaea that are all at the least "happy enough". Come late spring and summer most of them would HAVE to be moved even with the leaves overhead (if it weren't for my already planning to move them to the back porch again).

Astrid I also agree with Subrosa in that it's not your window that's the problem, it's some of the Orchids you're picking! You could also (maybe?) move some away from the window so they get the indirect light instead of getting direct light...?

Another possibility is window film. They sell it in some hardware and big box stores and it's often used for privacy. They're also decorative options. Might work for you. I've never used it period but it's what just came to my mind.

I wasn't necessarily asking about my plant problems, more about the term itself. To me, I think, "What kind of plant can withstand as much direct sun as this?!"

I mean, even my boyfriend's east-facing window gave my phals hot leaves within 10-20 minutes, and I don't think anything but a cactus could survive in a regular windowsill. I do shade my windows with lined paper so that the light is diffuse and less direct, but I left a little bar of light come in between them and it hit the leaf perfectly! It burned the shit out of it in probably 2-3 hours of exposure haha. I just think all my plants would die if left to their own devices in a windowsill.

Would dens and cattleyas survive this? I just don't know. I keep mostly oncidiums nowadays.

That said, the ivy and trees that live around me are juuust fine with direct sun, but I feel like house plants are more sensitive.
Whether my perception is wrong or right is up in the air, haha!

---------- Post added at 10:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 PM ----------

Originally Posted by sweetjblue

Or.... you just put your plant too close to the window. Glass can act like a magnifying glass.

Is this a new plant? If so, was it acclimated before you put it in the window?

I have alot of phals all grown indoors during the winter in south facing windows which don't get any shading during the day. The only time I've ever gotten sunburn on a leaf like yours does is during the late spring/early summer when the sun becomes brighter and hotter and before the trees leaf out.

Just pull your plants back, they'll still get plenty of light.

Quick shot at 2 o'clock. Most of these plants have spikes.

Ah, you have a nice little shade on your window. Usually I leave my blinds down, but I angle them maybe 15° up from the floor so no direct sun hits, and I leave the other blinds open on the other side of the room so it fills up with light.

The plant isn't super new- I've had it 3 months, and it wasn't acclimated because we are cloudy 90% of the time here in winter, and when the sun does decide to peep out, it reigns down like hellfire on my plants' leaves dang sun!

[MrHungx]

For me, "windowsill" plants/orchids are best suited in windows with bright, indirect light and typical household humidity levels.

Since you only have a south window, have you considered using sheer curtains? You can get a cheap tension rod from Target and use it to hang the curtains.

My dorm has a west window, but there is another building right outside my window, so I don't get any sunlight. I have to grow my orchids under lights, and this restricts the size of the orchids I can have. I have a specimen size Lc. Irene Finney 'Springs Best' that I'm trying to get rid of since I don't have room for it anymore.

[Subrosa]

Here's a list of orchids I keep outside, in full sun for as long as the temps are suitable:
Dendrobium kingianum
Dendrobium loddigesi
Dendrobium speciosum pedunculatum
Schoenorchis fragrans
Holcoglossum kimballiana
Leptotes bicolor
Various Catasetum hybrids
There is no way you're going to give these plants too much light on a windowsill in Portland.

I keep my Neofinetia in somewhat shady conditions outside, but when it comes in for the winter it sits next to the aforementioned Dendrobiums about 2" below a T5HO fixture.

[mimigirl]

From what i have found it means they will remain small enough to be grown on a windowsill. However this is also keeping in mind the basic light, water, etc. requirements of each species.

[lotis146]

Astrid, I understand what you're saying. I think Mimigirl has a good point too that windowsill plants are generally smaller in stature as well, thus they don't need much more than a windowsill to grow on.

I'm not familiar with Dends but I have been told that they like REALLY bright light so they probably would be happy there as would some Catts. I would think as well that you Oncidiums would be relatively happy there. My Heaven Scent gets direct afternoon light in the summer as do my Tolumnias and Miltonia, of course my Catts. Interestingly the micro-mini Tolumnia is definitely at its max there as is the Miltonia because they turn nearly yellow in color. So as with all plants you'd have to monitor them until you know for sure who can stand the heat. Hopefully you're able to resolve this issue without much hassle or sad plants. I find I beat myself over my head when I screw up with my Orchids as if I just have to be perfect all the time, lol, it's ridiculous.

[NYCorchidman]

The main thing is the size of orchids.
More and more people grow orchids and many of them do not own greenhouse.

So the term "windowsill orchids" came into being as a way of marketing.
Small plants that comfortably fit windowsills.
Also, relatively easy to grow and bloom without any special treatment at a regular home environment.
has nothing to do with light level.

So, vandas (in the traditional sense of the genus name, but the small varietis whose names all got dumped onto vanda group) and large standard Cattleyas and tall dendrobiums are not sold as windowsill orchids.

Anything that needs extra humidity are also not sold as windowsill orchids no matter how small they might be because they simply won't stay alive by the window. lol
These are more for special "tank" with climate control devices to keep cool and highly humid at all time.